Employers to Face New Mandates for Hiring People with Disabilities: Ukraine’s Updated Rules.

Ukraine Overhauls Its Approach to Employing Persons with Disabilities

According to Novyny.live: The Ukrainian government has introduced a revised method for calculating the average number of full-time employees to meet disability employment quotas. These changes, formalized under Cabinet Resolution No. 490, titled 'Certain Issues of Calculating and Fulfilling the Quota for Jobs for Persons with Disabilities,' exclude specific positions from the calculations and set new requirements for providing job placements.

Starting in 2026, companies with more than eight employees must hire at least one person with a disability, representing 4% of their average full-time workforce. This rule pushes businesses to actively recruit individuals with disabilities, aiming to better integrate this group into society.

Wage Adjustments and Employer Incentives

In 2025, the minimum wage for workers with disabilities was set at 48 hryvnias per hour and 8,000 hryvnias per month. By 2026, these figures will rise to 52 hryvnias per hour and 8,647 hryvnias per month. This increase is designed to make jobs more attractive for people with disabilities while encouraging employers to comply with the new requirements.

A key feature of the legislative update is a reduced unified social tax (UST) rate of 8.41% for employees with disabilities, compared to the standard 22%. This financial break gives employers an added incentive to hire from this group, making it easier to meet quotas by lowering their overall costs.

For certain roles, offered salaries already exceed market averages. For instance, plasterers can earn up to 80,000 hryvnias, which could help attract skilled workers, including those with disabilities.

Importantly, the new rules also specify job types that cannot be counted toward the quota. These include:

• positions involving harmful or hazardous working conditions;
• jobs with elevated safety risks;
• roles in civil service or law enforcement agencies.

Overall, Ukraine’s legislative changes aim to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities and foster their inclusion in the workforce, marking a significant step toward a more inclusive society. By encouraging businesses to tap into this talent pool, the reforms not only help individuals realize their potential but also promote corporate social responsibility. Ultimately, the government seeks to ensure equal access to employment for all citizens, regardless of physical ability.