The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the National Strategy for Bridging the Gender Pay Gap for the period up to 2030 and approved the operational action plan for its implementation for 2023-2025. The relevant decision was adopted at the Government meeting on 15 September 2023.

“In recent years, Ukraine has been actively working to overcome the pay gap between men and women. Our country has joined the International Biarritz Partnership initiative and the International Coalition for Equal Pay. And it brings its results. Over the past six years, the pay gap between women and men in Ukraine has decreased by 7.4 percentage points and currently stands at 18.6%. But unfortunately, this indicator remains higher than in many EU countries. Therefore, our goal is to change the situation. The Strategy, approved by the Government, aims not only to modernize labour legislation to ensure equal pay, but also to change the fundamental outlook of citizens. We need to help women increase their confidence that they can hold managerial positions, receive high wages, and be economically independent. In turn, men will be given the same opportunities as women to combine work and family responsibilities,” Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economy of Ukraine, explained.

According to her, the implementation of the adopted strategy assumes special importance in the conditions of a full-scale war between the russian federation and Ukraine. After all, a large number of women of working age with children were forced to go abroad because of the danger of hostilities and shelling of Ukrainian territory. At the same time, men aged 18 to 60 must defend the country from invaders.

The threat of non-return of Ukrainian women and men who are currently abroad will also remain a big challenge for gender pay equality after the war.

According to the latest studies of the International Labour Organization, there are currently no universal ways to solve the problem of the gender pay gap. In such conditions, international labour standards and other key tools become especially important.

The implementation plan for the National Strategy for Bridging the Gender Pay Gap for the period up to 2030, in particular, provides for:

1. Overcoming stereotypes and discrimination based on gender.

It is planned to conduct a large-scale information campaign for women “Of Course You Can” to convince them that they are capable of receiving a higher reward for their work. As well as an educational campaign to increase women’s awareness of their rights and opportunities, which they may use to improve their professional level, to quickly acquire a new profession that is more in demand in the labour market, including from the STEM category and, accordingly, a higher-paid job, start or develop their own business. It is also proposed to introduce gender audits and exchange of best practices for implementing gender equality in the workplace.

2. Improving legislation on equal pay.

It is planned to modernize labour legislation - the new version of the Law On Labour introduces the principle of equal pay for work of equal value regardless of gender, which will increase the effectiveness of legal protection. Inspections of the State Labour Service based on complaints about gender-based pay discrimination will be introduced. A national methodology for gender-neutral job evaluation and training for labour inspectors and employers will also be developed.

3. Creating conditions for a convenient combination of family and professional responsibilities.

In particular, it is proposed to promote the creation and operation of state and private kindergartens, to support organizations dealing with older children at the state level. Improve labour legislation regarding equal treatment to men and women with family responsibilities. It is planned to introduce training programs for employers to help employees combine professional and family responsibilities.