Ukrainian workers continue to show extraordinary resilience, keeping key sectors, of the country’s economy, running under full-scale occupation and invasion. Despite constant danger, destroyed workplaces and scarce resources mining, nuclear and manufacturing workers keep the economy alive. At the same time, a wave of worker-hostile legislation is advancing and social dialogue has stalled.
Against this backdrop, IndustriALL Global Union and industriAll European Trade Union held a joint meeting on 14 October 2025, bringing together Ukrainian affiliated unions, government officials, International Labour Organization, Ukrainian members of Parliament, European Union employer representatives and safety experts to discuss wartime working conditions and legislative changes, including Ukrainian Draft Law No. 10147 “On the safety and health of workers at work.”
Mykhailo Volynets, chair of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine (NPGU) and national centre KVPU (KVPU) and Valeriy Matov, chair of nuclear workers’ union Atomprofspilka, said martial law has curtailed collective bargaining, extended working hours and restricted strikes. They warned that the draft law would shift safety responsibility from employers to workers, impose a 25 per cent threshold for union representation (at plant level) and erode protection when people are already working under bombardment and stress.
“While the invasion continues to devastate lives, Ukrainian workers put all the efforts in mines, energy plants and production facilities to keep the country running. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the workers of Ukraine. For occupational health and safety (OHS) workers have rights and employers have duties. Any law that pushes risks onto workers cannot be accepted as it would violate fundamental workers’ rights,” said Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary.
The specialist from ILO’s workers’ bureau ACTRAV, Gocha Aleksandria, reminded participants that occupational health and safety is a fundamental right at work, recognized in the 2022 International Labour Conference. “No worker or workplace should be left unprotected,” he said, calling for prevention, participation and dialogue to guide reform.
From the European Commission, Jan-Willem Ebeling, explained that the EU framework directive clearly makes employers responsible for preventing risks, providing training and consulting workers. The directive sets minimum standards that cannot reduce existing protection and relies on tripartite cooperation and strong labour inspection.
Elena Crasta, senior advisor at the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), said reforms must comply with EU law and include real consultation. “ETUC has already raised concerns with the European Commission,” she said. “The government must honour its commitments to social dialogue and EU alignment or risk setbacks to integration.”
Union representatives shared the harsh realities of working in wartime. Dmytro Zelenyi from NPGU miners’ union described flooded, bomb-damaged shafts where people still work. Valeriy Matov said nuclear workers face life-threatening conditions with limited funding. Karina Plakhova, of the Trade Union of Aircraft and Machine Building Workers, warned that enterprise relocations create new hazards and limit union oversight. Bohdan Overkovsky, chair of the Metallurgists and Miners’ Union, said unions continue inspections and support despite destroyed infrastructure.
Representing employers, Oleksandr Turov, head of trade union relations at DTEK, a major Ukrainian energy company and one of the country’s largest private-sector employers, said constructive relations with unions are vital for stability and safety but cautioned that any legal change “must be agreed between employers and unions.”
The Ukrainian unions have analysed the Draft Law No. 10147 ‘On the safety and health of workers at work’, and have appealed to the ILO, EU and Ukranian Parliament for intervention. 14 unions united to present a common position.
Commenting on this show of unity, Isabelle Barthès, industriAll Europe deputy general secretary declared: “We stand in full solidarity with Ukrainian workers. Health and safety is a trade-union priority: prevention and employer accountability are non-negotiable, social partners must be involved. This is why we will ensure that your voices are heard by the EU institutions and will continue to advocate for alignment with EU standards.”
A joint statement by 14 Ukrainian trade unions-affiliated to IndustriALL and industriAll Europe-presented by Yarema Zhugaevich chair of the Aircraft builders’ union, calls on the Verkhovna Rada to reject draft law No. 10147 in its current form, involve unions, the ILO and EU experts in revisions and ensure compliance with international standards. It warns that adopting the bill would undermine social dialogue, lower safety standards and jeopardise Ukraine’s EU accession.
“This last blow fits a broader pattern of chipping away at collective rights. Your unity is your strength and our mandate. IndustriALL will deliver this message directly to parliamentarians and institutions.” Özkan concluded.
IndustriALL Global Union and industriAll Europe call on the Ukrainian government to uphold the international standards for occupational health and safety, restore the quality of social dialogue and prevent any rollback of worker protection. Ukrainian workers have kept the country’s industries alive through war and they must not now be made to carry employers’ legal duties for safety.