“Pravova derzhava”. Issue 37 (2026), pages 508–517.

DOI: 10.33663/0869-2491-2026-37-508-517

Simutina Yana
Domestic work in Ukraine: challenges of implementing the law

ISSN online: 2617-9776 print: 0869-2491

The article focuses on the problems of effective practical implementation of legal norms designed to regulate domestic work in Ukraine. Across the world, domestic work is not always recognized as ‘real’ work, resulting in low wages and poor working conditions for domestic workers. The location of work performed by domestic workers who provide certain services in the household is an additional factor of instability, as it makes such workers more vulnerable to abuse by employers. At the same time, domestic work, which is largely ‘publicly invisible’, is quite dificult to regulate and control by the state. The author reveals the problems of the legal status of domestic workers, who remain vulnerable to abuse by employers and limited access to labour rights and social protection. It is proven that, despite the existence of international ILO standards, in particular Convention No. 189 and Recommendation No. 201, the practice of most states, including Ukraine, demonstrates significant gaps in the regulation, control and implementation of the rights of domestic workers. A conclusion has been formulated regarding the inadequacy of existing Ukrainian legislation, in particular after the adoption of Law No. 3680-IX ‘On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Regarding the Regulation of Domestic Workers,’ which legalised the work of domestic workers but did not eliminate key regulatory shortcomings related to working conditions, working hours, social insurance, tax regulation and inspection control.

For the effective legalisation of domestic workers and, most importantly, the proper implementation of their labour rights, directions for improving national legislation by bringing it into line with international standards have been proposed. It is necessary to develop a set of measures aimed at: further bringing national legislation into line with international standards, in particular ILO Convention No. 189 and Recommendation No. 201; improving tax legislation and creating an effective mechanism for the participation of domestic workers in the compulsory state social insurance system; encouraging formal employment by creating clear advantages for both employers and domestic workers to conclude employment contracts, in particular, developing a model employment contract for domestic work; conducting campaigns to raise public awareness and inform domestic workers about their rights, available support systems, existing trade unions or other representative organisations of domestic workers; monitoring and effective law enforcement by creating effective mechanisms to ensure the implementation of new regulations governing domestic work.

Keywords: domestic worker, domestic work, decent work, social protection, labour rights and guarantees, employment contract, discrimination, international standards.

References

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2. Ghailani, D., Marlier, E., Baptista, I., Deruelle, T., Duri, I., Guio, A.-C., Kominou, K., Perista, P. and Spasova, S. (2024). Access for domestic workers to labour and social protection: An analysis of policies in 34 European countries, p. 11.

3. Ibid, p. 12.

4. Verkhovna Rada Ukrainy pidtrymuie zakhyst trudovykh prav domashnikh pratsivnykiv. Pres-sluzhba Aparatu Verkhovnoi Rady Ukrainy. Opublikovano 12 kvitnia 2023. URL: https://www.rada.gov.ua/news/news_kom/235405.html (in Ukr.).

5. C189 — Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189). Date of entry into force: 05 Sep 2013. URL: https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_ en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO::P12100_Ilo_Code:C189  

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10. Ukraina: Domashni pratsivnyky obiednuiutsia za vyznannia, hidnist. Tsentr solidarnosti. URL: https://www.solidaritycenter.org/ukraine-domestic-workers-organize-for-recognition-dignity/ (in Ukr.).

Дата першого надходження рукопису до видання: 15.12.2025
Дата прийнятого до друку рукопису після рецензування: 03.03.2026
Дата публікації: 24.03.2026