Ukrainian Women in Wartime: Labor Rights, Resilience, and the Path to Equity

On the eve of International Women`s Day, the Solidarity Center Ukraine and Labor Initiatives NGO, in collaboration with the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine, co-hosted a panel discussion on women`s labor rights and gender aspects of the wartime labor market in Ukraine. 

With about 90 participants (both offline and online), including FPU members across Ukraine, ITUC, ETUC, and ILO in Ukraine representatives, academia, governmental bodies, and civil society partners, the event highlighted the challenges and difficulties women in Ukraine face during the all-out war. The friendly atmosphere during the event fostered sincere and heart-breaking stories from powerful women who must survive and fight to reclaim their lives and future. 

Amidst the war, women in Ukraine have been working and obtaining new professions, volunteering, and serving in the military. The discussions cemented the importance of women`s re-skilling as, because of the war, thousands of women in Ukraine started working in industries, traditionally more employed by men. For instance, under the State Employment Center, in 2023, 2,400 women were employed in the mining and building sector. 

Gender pay gap elimination, ILO Convention 190 ratification, and effective collective bargaining agreements were emphasized as advancing gender equity dimensions. Specific attention was paid to war-related migration, which mainly affected women and children, and the obstacles faced by the internally displaced women.