Payments to employees in Ukraine: a list of mandatory guarantees, additional bonuses from employers and ways to motivate staff in 2025

Everyone who works in Ukraine has the right to social support, which includes mandatory payments guaranteed by state legislation and additional bonuses and premiums from employers. Find out what payments employees in Ukraine can expect and what features of labor legislation are important for foreign investors planning to start a business in Ukraine to know about

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Every employee in Ukraine is protected by labor legislation, which obliges employers to pay a certain minimum of social benefits. These requirements allow employees to feel more confident, and employers planning to open a business in Ukraine to understand the package of benefits that can be offered to their potential employees. After all, in addition to basic payments, every business can offer talents a number of additional bonuses to attract qualified workers and create comfortable working conditions for them.

We will tell you about the main legal and additional benefits available in Ukraine in 2025 later in this article.

Order a consultation with a business lawyer to find out all the requirements of Ukrainian labor legislation and protect yourself from lawsuits and fines. A business lawyer is your reliable assistant in working in Ukraine.

List of mandatory benefits for employees in Ukraine

Mandatory benefits for employees in Ukraine are payments provided for by law and considered a minimum standard. They must be provided by all employers doing business in Ukraine:

1. Vacation

- Annual leave - each employee is entitled to 24 calendar days of annual paid leave.

- Additional leave - certain categories of employees (e.g. teachers, civil servants) are entitled to additional days of vacation.

- Unpaid leave - employees can request unpaid leave for personal reasons and receive it subject to the approval of the employer.

2. Sick leave

Paid sick leave, payments are made through the social insurance system of Ukraine. To receive benefits, employees must provide a medical certificate. The employer covers the first five days, and the Social Insurance Fund covers the following.

3. Maternity leave

Maternity leave: 126 calendar days (70 before and 56 after childbirth). The period can be extended to 140 days in case of complications during childbirth (e.g. caesarean section) or multiple births.

Fully compensated by social insurance in the amount of 100% of the employee's average wage.

The father is also entitled to 14 unpaid days, unless otherwise compensated by the employer.

4. Parental leave

Either parent can take unpaid leave until the child reaches the age of three, while maintaining job guarantees.

5. Insurance and social protection

The employer pays state social insurance for employees through a single social tax of 22% of the salary. This tax covers the pension system, unemployment benefits, and short-term and long-term disability benefits.

6. Unemployment insurance

Compensation from the state fund in the event of unemployment depends on the length of service, the average salary of the person before unemployment, and the reason for unemployment. This compensation can also be provided as a lump sum.

7. Pension

The retirement age in Ukraine in 2024 is 60 years for both men and women with at least 30 years of service. In the future, the minimum length of service will increase by one year each year; in 2028, it will be 35 years. Further changes, such as the introduction of a secondary funded pension level, are also planned by the government, but the date has not been set.

Pension contributions from the employer: 22% of the employee's gross salary, the employee's contribution is a fixed deduction from the employee's salary.

8. Public holidays

In 2025, 12 days off are recognized in Ukraine, including: January 1 - New Year, March 8 - International Women's Day, August 24 - Independence Day.

Employees who work on holidays must receive double pay or compensatory leave.

9. Overtime pay

Overtime in Ukraine is only allowed in "exceptional cases", and there are strict restrictions on who can work overtime (and how much).

On weekdays, overtime must be paid at double the employee's regular salary. If overtime is performed on a day off, the employee may be given another day off instead of overtime pay.

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Additional bonuses and privileges from employers

The benefits required by the Government of Ukraine are the minimum established by law, each employer can offer additional benefits to attract the most talented employees.

1. Medical insurance (dentistry, psychotherapy, prevention)

Despite the fact that all residents of Ukraine have the right to medical care according to the national system, some employers offer additional benefits for employees and their families. This rule allows employees to receive faster and higher-quality medical care, as well as consultations of specialized specialists - dental care, psychotherapist consultation and diagnostic services.

2. Professional development

Financing of advanced training courses, language training, industry conferences and seminars.

3. Flexible working conditions

Flexible schedule for working parents, remote work, 4-day work week.

4. Payment for mobile communications, transport and food

Food vouchers or subsidized lunches are quite common.

5. Compensation for transport costs

Public transport tickets or fuel discounts.

6. Bonuses for good work

Annual bonuses related to the results of the work of an individual or company.

7. Sports classes

Gyms on the territory, yoga classes, compensation for fitness subscriptions and mental health support services.

8. Corporate discounts and bonuses, loyalty programs

How to motivate staff in Ukraine in 2024-2025?

In 2024, companies operating in Ukraine focused on comprehensive support for their employees, combining financial incentives, health care and professional development, creating comfortable working and living conditions.

The most common methods of support included full salary payments (98%) and bonuses (84%). More than half of respondents (56%) reported that their companies invested in staff development, 46% provided psychological support to employees and their families, and 21% helped employees with housing rental.

In addition, some companies covered medical insurance for employees’ family members, living in other cities or abroad, electricity and internet costs.

In 2025, companies plan to implement a number of changes aimed at retaining and developing employees, expanding teams and developing the business. In particular, special attention will be paid to increasing budgets for training and development, entering new markets and finding new partners, as well as increasing wages by 10-15%.

Ukraine is a promising country for work, even despite the hostilities, however, if you plan to get a job in the country or do business here, be sure to familiarize yourself with the labor legislation of the country in detail.

If you plan to start a career in Ukraine, contact a migration lawyer to find out visa requirements and the specifics of employment in the country. When starting work in a new country, it is very important to know your rights and obligations!

Let us remind you! Does bureaucracy hinder doing business in Ukraine? A new study shows that our country is inferior to Poland in terms of the simplicity of regulatory procedures. We have already told you how Ukraine looks compared to other countries in terms of the level of regulatory burden, why opening a business in our country is more difficult, but doing business is easier, and what reforms can improve the situation.

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