Draft Labor Code in Ukraine: Risks for Workers’ Rights and the Crisis of Social Dialogue

LI Legal Director George Sandul gave an extensive interview for a long-read feature published by ZAXID.NET dedicated to the ongoing debate around the new draft Labor Code in Ukraine.

In the interview, George reflected on more than twenty years of attempts to reform labour legislation in Ukraine and discussed the broader challenges surrounding social dialogue in the country. According to him, the process of consultations between the government, employers, and trade unions often remains unbalanced, while proposals and criticisms raised by trade unions are not fully taken into account.

A significant part of the discussion focused on the draft Labor Code No. 14386, registered in the Ukrainian Parliament on January 15, 2026.

George Sandul outlined several provisions of the draft law that raise serious concerns from the perspective of labour rights protection. He warned that some proposed changes could weaken workers’ guarantees, reduce the influence of trade unions, and shift the balance of labour relations further in favor of employers.

The interview also addressed the long-term implications such reforms may have for working conditions, collective bargaining, and the overall system of labour protections in Ukraine.