Country profile UKR
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 5-14 | 2.2 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2012 | 5-14 | 2.1 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2012 | 5-14 | 2.2 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2012 | 5-14 | 3.1 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2012 | 5-14 | 3.4 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2012 | 5-14 | 3.2 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 1994 | C138 & C182 | Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine No. 46 | [{"link_name":"Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine No. 46","source_link":"https://dnaop.com/html/43235/doc-%D0%94%D0%9D%D0%90%D0%9E%D0%9F_0.03-3.29-94"}] | Yes | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | Order No. 46 of 1994, issued by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, establishes a list of hazardous occupations and work prohibited for individuals under the age of 18. This list includes activities in sectors such as mining, construction, agriculture, and manufacturing, where work is deemed to pose risks to the health, safety, or morals of minors. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 1971 ; 1994 | C138 & C182 | Labour Code of Ukraine - Section 190 ; Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine No. 46 (1994), Section 2(3) | [{"link_name":"-Labour Code of Ukraine","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/46087/UKR-46087%20%28EN%29.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine No. 46 (1994)","source_link":"https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0176-94#Text"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4361733,102867"}] | 14 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | Article 190 of the Labour Code of Ukraine stipulates that it is prohibited to employ the labour of persons under the age of 18 in heavy work and in work with harmful or dangerous working conditions, as well as in underground work. It also states that it is forbidden to involve persons younger than 18 years of age in lifting and moving objects whose weight exceeds the limits established for them. Besides, Article 2.1 of Order No. 46 (1994) states that the use of minors in industries, occupations and jobs with difficult and hazardous working conditions is prohibited in all enterprises, institutions and organisations, regardless of their form of ownership and activities. The Order further stipulates that minors aged 17 and above are permitted to work in certain occupations, including as dump loader (provided that labor processes are mechanized), a blacksmith-drill filler, a lamp repairman engaged in refueling alkaline batteries, etc. Nevertheless, Section 2(3) of Order No. 46 (1994) permits persons under 18 pursuing vocational training to perform hazardous work under certain conditions but does not establish a minimum age, effectively allowing children as young as 14 to be exposed to hazardous activities. The CEACR has consistently urged the Ukrainian Government to prohibit the involvement of children under 16 in hazardous work during vocational training. In an Observation adopted in 2023, it states that "the legislation in force therefore does not explicitly prohibit children between 14 (the age of admission to vocational training) and 16 years to perform hazardous work during vocational training. [It] once again emphasizes that that young persons below 16 years of age engaged in apprenticeships must not undertake hazardous work and that measures should be taken to raise the minimum age for admission to hazardous work to at least 16 years, even if the required protective conditions are adequately provided.". |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 2001 | C182 | Criminal Code of Ukraine - Articles 304, 307 | [{"link_name":"Criminal Code of Ukraine","source_link":"https://sherloc.unodc.org/cld/uploads/res/document/ukr/2001/criminal-code-of-the-republic-of-ukraine-en_html/Ukraine_Criminal_Code_as_of_2010_EN.pdf"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Article 304 of the Criminal Code criminalises the involvement of minors in criminal activities, including drug-related offences. Article 307 establishes penalties for the illegal production, manufacture, acquisition, storage, transportation, or sale of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. While the law prohibits the involvement of children in drug-related activities. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2001 | C182 | Criminal Code of Ukraine - Articles 301(1), 302, 303 | [{"link_name":"Criminal Code of Ukraine","source_link":"https://sherloc.unodc.org/cld/uploads/res/document/ukr/2001/criminal-code-of-the-republic-of-ukraine-en_html/Ukraine_Criminal_Code_as_of_2010_EN.pdf"}] | Yes | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | Article 301(1) of the Criminal Code prohibits the import, production, sale, and dissemination of pornographic materials, including the involvement of children in their creation. Article 302 addresses the maintenance of brothels and procurement, while Article 303 criminalises pimping and the involvement of others—including minors—in prostitution. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 1992 ; 2001 ; 2001 | C182 | Law on Military Duty and Military Service (1992) - Articles 15 and 20 ; Law on the Protection of Childhood (2001) - Article 30 ; Criminal Code of Ukraine (2001) - Article 149 | [{"link_name":"-Law on Military Duty and Military Service (1992)","source_link":"https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/1992/en/122808?prevPage=/node/122808"},{"link_name":"-Law on the Protection of Childhood (2001)","source_link":"https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2402-14#Text"},{"link_name":"-Criminal Code of Ukraine (2001)","source_link":"https://www.unodc.org/cld/uploads/res/document/ukr/2001/criminal-code-of-the-republic-of-ukraine-en_html/Ukraine_Criminal_Code_as_of_2010_EN.pdf"}] | Yes | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | Forced or compulsory recruitment of persons under 18 into the armed forces is prohibited under Articles 15 and 20 of the Law on Military Duty and Military Service. Article 30 of the Law on the Protection of Childhood reinforces this prohibition by outlawing the involvement of children in military activities. Article 149 of the Criminal Code prohibits recruitment by non-state armed groups. However, voluntary recruitment is permitted from the age of 17 with parental consent. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 1994 ; 2021 | C182 | Criminal Code of Ukraine - Article 149; Law No. 1256-IX (2021) – Amendments implementing the Lanzarote Convention | [{"link_name":"-Criminal Code of Ukraine","source_link":"https://sherloc.unodc.org/cld/uploads/res/document/ukr/2001/criminal-code-of-the-republic-of-ukraine-en_html/Ukraine_Criminal_Code_as_of_2010_EN.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Law No. 1256-IX (2021) \u2013 Amendments implementing the Lanzarote Convention","source_link":"https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1256-20#Text"}] | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine criminalises all forms of human trafficking, including the trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation. In 2021, Ukraine adopted Law No. 1256-IX to strengthen its child protection framework by criminalising the sexual exploitation of children in accordance with the Council of Europe's Lanzarote Convention. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 1971 ; 1994 | C138 | Labour Code of Ukraine - Section 188(3) ; Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine No. 46 of 1 March 1994 - Section 2(3) | [{"link_name":"-Labour Code of Ukraine","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/46087/UKR-46087%20%28EN%29.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine No. 46 of 1 March 1994","source_link":"https://dnaop.com/html/43235/doc-%D0%94%D0%9D%D0%90%D0%9E%D0%9F_0.03-3.29-94#google_vignette"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://www.ilo.org/normlex-permalink/comment/en/4361733"}] | 14-18 | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | Section 2(3) of the 1994 Order allows persons under 18 years of age pursuing vocational training to perform hazardous work under certain conditions, but does not specify a minimum age. The CEACR notes that vocational training may begin at age 14, and emphasises that apprentices under 16 must not engage in hazardous work. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 1971 ; 2017 | C138 | Labour Code of Ukraine - Article 188(1) ; Law on General Secondary Education - Article 12 | [{"link_name":"-Labour Code of Ukraine","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/46087/UKR-46087%20%28EN%29.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Law on General Secondary Education","source_link":"https://mon.gov.ua/npa/law-education"}] | No | 4 | C138 requires that the minimum age for admission to work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years. | In Ukraine, the Labour Code sets the general minimum age for employment at 16 years. However, the Law on General Secondary Education stipulates that compulsory education lasts 12 years, commencing at age 6 and concluding at age 17. This discrepancy means that the minimum age for employment is lower than the age for completion of compulsory schooling. Consequently, children may enter the workforce before completing their mandatory education, which is not in alignment with Article 2(3) of Convention No. 138. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 1971 | C138 | Labour Code of Ukraine, Article 188(3) | [{"link_name":"-Labour Code of Ukraine","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/46087/UKR-46087%20%28EN%29.pdf"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://www.ilo.org/normlex-permalink/comment/en/4361730"}] | N/A | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | While Ukraine permits children aged 14 and above to engage in light work with parental consent, neither the Labour Code nor other binding legislation currently defines “light work” or sets out a formal list of permissible light work activities or conditions. The CEACR has repeatedly called on Ukraine to fulfil its obligations under Article 7(3) of Convention No. 138, which requires the government to legally determine the types of light work permitted and establish the number of hours and conditions under which it may be undertaken. |
| Minimum age for light work | 1971 | C138 | Labour Code of Ukraine - Article 188(3) | [{"link_name":"-Labour Code of Ukraine","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/46087/UKR-46087%20%28EN%29.pdf"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://www.ilo.org/normlex-permalink/comment/en/4361730"}] | 14 | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | The current Labour Code permits children from the age of 14 to perform light work, provided it does not harm their health or interfere with their education and is done with parental consent. However, the law does not define "light work" or specify the types of activities allowed. The CEACR has urged Ukraine to define light work more clearly and adopt a list of permissible activities, in line with Article 7(3) of Convention No. 138. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 1971 | C138 | Labour Code of Ukraine - Article 188 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code of Ukraine","source_link":"https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/322-08#Text"}] | 16 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | Article 188 of the Labour Code of Ukraine sets the minimum age for admission to employment at 16 years. This provision is consistent with Convention No. 138, which allows States to set a general minimum age of no less than 15 years. |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 03-MAY-1979 | Source |
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 14-DEC-2000 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focused on 27 areas related to human rights, including children’s rights. In 2023, during a discussion forum with over 300 participants from the government, civil society, and community leaders, the government presented the key accomplishments over the past year and recommendations for policymakers to support the human rights agenda in Ukraine. | [{"link_name":"National Strategy on Human Rights","source_link":"https://ombudsman.gov.ua/uk/nacionalna-strategiya-u-sferi-zahistu-prav-lyudini"}] | 2021–2023 | National Strategy on Human Rights | Office of the President of Ukraine |
| Adopted in June 2023, guides the work of the National Coordinator on Countering Human Trafficking and enhances mechanisms for preventing human trafficking, building institutional capacities and collaboration of the National Referral Mechanism stakeholders, strengthening the identification of individuals involved in trafficking-related crimes, and ensuring comprehensive protection and assistance to all human trafficking victims, including children | [{"link_name":"National Action Plan for Countering Human Trafficking","source_link":"https://www.kmu.gov.ua/npas/pro-zatverdzhennia-derzhavnoi-tsilovoi-sotsialnoi-pro-a496r"}] | 2023 – 2025 | National Action Plan for Countering Human Trafficking | Ministry of Social Policy (MSP) |