In October 2025, a sharp debate erupted in Ukraine over the living wage. The head of the Parliament's Finance Committee, Danylo Hetmantsev, publicly criticized the government, calling the official living wage figures out of touch with reality.
For 2025, the minimum is set at UAH 2,920 for the general indicator and UAH 3,028 for able-bodied persons. For 2026, the government plans to raise these figures to UAH 3,209 and UAH 3,328, matching forecasted inflation. However, according to the Ministry of Social Policy, the actual living wage in June 2025 was UAH 8,421 (general) and UAH 11,464 (able-bodied)—three to four times higher than the official budget numbers. Expenditures for food alone exceed the proposed minimum.
Hetmantsev believes that the government should introduce a gradual increase schedule for the living wage to at least cover food expenses. Meanwhile, economic experts accuse him of populism and lack of concrete proposals, emphasizing that as head of the finance committee, Hetmantsev has tools to change the calculation methodology.
Among the economists’ proposals is the creation of an independent expert council at the State Statistics Service to develop a transparent methodology for setting the living wage reflecting real prices and current needs.
The government argues the need to balance social commitments with financial stability amid war, budget deficit, and high defense spending. A sharp rise in the living wage would add billions in extra expenses.
In the context of war, a budget deficit and business pressures, the living wage debate in Ukraine remains unresolved, with people’s real incomes and social guarantees under pressure.
