On February 27, the President of Ukraine signed Law No. 5344-d, “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Ensuring the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to Work”, which was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada in mid-January. The public union “League of the Strong” actively advocated for expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities and contributed to improving the provisions of this law.
Daria Sydorenko, Executive Director of “League of the Strong,” emphasized the organization’s long-term goal: “Our aim is to reach a 50% employment rate for people with disabilities, similar to European countries. To achieve this, we participated in developing Law No. 5344-d, which introduces several positive changes in this area. However, this law is a framework, and much work remains ahead. For instance, we still need to regulate the issue of compensation for reasonable accommodation for self-employed individuals with disabilities. But the adoption of this law is a crucial first step in the right direction,” she stated.
Key Changes Introduced by Law No. 5344-d
The law expands employment opportunities for people with disabilities, including in public administration and local government. Its key provisions include:
Consultations and Support for Employers
Employers will receive additional services, including counseling from the Employment Service and the Pension Fund, to better understand the hiring process for people with disabilities and create inclusive workplaces. Notably, financial support will now be available even if the employment was not facilitated through the Employment Service.
New Services for People with Disabilities
The law introduces essential social services that support people with disabilities in the workplace, such as personal assistants, workplace adaptation assistance, and sign language interpretation. These services aim to make employment more accessible and sustainable.
Enhanced Coordination Between Government Agencies
A data exchange mechanism will be established between the Employment Service, the Pension Fund, and the Social Protection Fund for Persons with Disabilities. This will facilitate better identification of job seekers with disabilities and connect them with relevant employment opportunities.
Stronger Incentives for Hiring People with Severe Disabilities
Employers who hire individuals with Group 1 disabilities or Group 2 disabilities with visual impairments or mental disorders will be credited for fulfilling two jobs instead of one under employment quotas. This provision aims to encourage job creation for the most vulnerable groups.
Adjustments to Tax Benefits for Employers
Businesses hiring people with disabilities will receive more accessible tax benefits, regardless of their ownership structure. However, this provision will only take effect once amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine are introduced.
Increased Employment Opportunities in Government Agencies
State and municipal institutions will now be required to actively employ people with disabilities. Previously, these institutions had to meet a 4% employment quota, but this applied only to general staff and not to civil servants. As a result, people with disabilities could mostly apply for low-skilled government jobs. With this change, public sector employment will now be more accessible to them.
Current Employment Statistics and the Need for Reform
A recent study conducted by “League of the Strong” on the employment of people with disabilities in Ukraine found that:
- Only 20% of people with disabilities over the age of 14 are currently employed.
- More than half of those who want to work cannot access employment opportunities.
For the full text of the study, please visit: