After an active phase of labour reform in 2019-2020 and failed attempts to push anti-worker and anti-union draft laws, the idea of changing (modernizing, deregulating) labour law remains on the agenda of government officials and other stakeholders during wartime. Indeed, the war in Ukraine revealed the gaps and drawbacks of labour regulations, while simultaneously becoming a momentum for adopting new rules in the labour sphere.

Arguments on "soviet" labour legislation and the necessity to adopt the Law on Labor instead of a comprehensive codified document are the cornerstones of the current reform. Obligations under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement are one of the main safeguards against adopting regressive laws. But whether lawmakers are ready to comply with the EU standards and want to build an attractive economy for investment and return of Ukrainians to their homes?

AGENDA

17.00-17.15 Introduction - Barbara Surdykowska

17.15-18.00 An overview of labour law trends and recent legislative initiatives in Ukraine
● George Sandul, the director of the Kyiv-based Labour Initiatives NGO, and a labour rights lawyer with more than 14 years of experience
● Inna Kudinska, labour rights lawyer affiliated with the Solidarity Center in Ukraine and Labour Initiatives NGO

18.00-18.20 Short comments by representatives of International Trade Union Confederation and European Trade Union Confederation
 Anton Leppik, ITUC
 Józef Niemiec, ETUC

18.20-19.00 Short comments by representatives of Polish trade unions NSZZ Solidarność and Ogólnopolskie Porozumienie Związków Zawodowych
 Mateusz Szymański, NSZZ Solidarność
 Piotr Ostrowski, OPZZ

19.00-19.30 Debate and sum-up. Moderator: Barbara Surdykowska

Contact: cooperante@wpia.uni.lodz.pl