Worker Reserves 2026: The average wage requirement took effect in June

The government has updated the procedure for reserving employees at critical enterprises. Resolution No. 692 establishes higher salary requirements, changes the rules for calculating quotas, and tightens oversight of compliance with limits. Learn more about the new reservation requirements, the timeline for revising the criteria, and what businesses need to do right now

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The government has approved updated rules for reserving employees at critical enterprises. As reported by Interfax-Ukraine, citing the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, Resolution No. 692 of May 30 is now in effect, along with a higher salary threshold for enterprises reserving employees.

What specific changes await businesses, how the average salary will be calculated, and what companies need to do in the near future—we explain further in this article.

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Average salary for retention: how much and from when?

One of the key changes in Resolution No. 692 is the increase in requirements for the average salary level at enterprises that have or plan to obtain the status of critically important.

The updated salary criterion took effect on the date of the resolution’s publication—June 1, 2026. This means that starting in May 2026, the average salary of insured employees at the enterprise must be no less than 25,941 UAH (three minimum wages).

At the same time, the salary of each individual reserved employee must meet this level starting September 1, 2026.

For enterprises registered and actually located in areas of potential or active hostilities, a reduced standard remains in effect—the average salary must exceed 2.5 times the minimum wage, i.e., be no less than 21,618 UAH.

The Ministry of Economy explained the calculation mechanism: if an enterprise applies to the relevant government agency in July, the average salary for June will be taken into account.

About the rules for arranging overseas leave for military personnel in 2026 — read here.

Review of sectoral and regional criteria: deadlines and recommendations

All government agencies are required to review the sectoral and regional criteria for determining the criticality of enterprises by June 10, 2026. Decisions on new reservations will be made by August—but not before this review is completed.

The Ministry recommends that the following categories of enterprises prepare in advance:

• companies whose employee reservation period expires in June or July;
• enterprises planning to obtain critical importance status for the first time.

After the criteria are updated, these businesses must submit the required set of documents to the relevant government agency.

The decision to recognize a business as critical, effective as of June 2, 2026, remains valid for the specified period, but no longer than until September 1, 2026.

An enterprise that loses its critical importance status due to the repeal of the relevant sectoral or regional criterion retains the right to resubmit documents—already taking into account the updated requirements.

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Reservation limits and monitoring of compliance

Resolution No. 692 clarifies the procedure for calculating the number of employees who may be reserved. The following rules will apply starting September 1, 2026:

1. Employees who are already entitled to a deferral from mobilization on other grounds will be counted toward the reservation quota for only one place of employment.
2. Part-time workers will also be counted toward the quota at only one place of employment.
3. If the permissible number of reserved employees is exceeded, the company’s manager is required to submit an application through the “Diya” portal within 10 business days to cancel the relevant reservations.

Failure to fulfill this obligation may have serious consequences. As Sayenko Kharenko notes, the enterprise risks completely losing its status as a critical business.

We discussed the 2026 mobilization reform in this article.

What has changed for Diya.City residents?

The resolution also clarified the conditions for confirming criticality for “Diya.City” residents. Resident status alone is no longer sufficient grounds for receiving reservation benefits. The company must meet the requirements of Article 5 of the Law of Ukraine “On Stimulating the Development of the Digital Economy in Ukraine,” particularly regarding wage levels. Tax reports for the last six months serve as confirmation.

How Many Employees Are Reserved in Ukraine and What the Ministry of Economy Expects

According to the head of the Ministry of Economy, Oleksiy Sobolev, over 1.3 million people are currently reserved in Ukraine, and the ministry expects this number to remain stable going forward.

The minister also noted that raising wages for reserved employees could bring an additional 10–13 billion UAH to the state budget. The criteria for determining criticality were last reviewed in early 2025, and, according to the ministry’s assessment, enough time has passed since then to conduct a full audit of these requirements.

Remember! Changes to the reservation rules require careful analysis and proper documentation. Experts at the Visit Ukraine portal provide legal consultations on labor law, employee reservations, and interactions with government agencies.

Get professional support in a timely manner — schedule a consultation on the Visit Ukraine portal!

Reminder! In our previous article, we discussed special contracts for IT specialists in the Ukrainian military.

Photo: RBC-Ukraine

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