New rules for the employment of persons with disabilities: what will change from 1 January 2026

From the beginning of 2026, Ukraine is introducing changes to the regulation of employment for persons with disabilities. This article outlines the key requirements of the new framework and important considerations for HR and financial planning.

From 1 January 2026, new rules for the employment of people with disabilities will come into force in Ukraine. This is provided by Law of Ukraine No. 4219-IX dated 15 January 2025, which introduced amendments to the Law of Ukraine «On the Fundamentals of Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities in Ukraine».
 

І. Employment quota for persons with disabilities

From 1 January 2026, the quota will be calculated on a quarterly basis:

  • for 8 to 25 employees in the average headcount per quarter – 1 workplace for a person with a disability;
  • for more than 25 employees – 4% of the average headcount of staff per quarter;
  • for healthcare institutions, rehabilitation centers, educational and care organizations – 2%.

Certain categories of employees with disabilities are counted as two persons towards the quota:

  • an employee with a Group I disability, regardless of the cause of disability, is counted as two persons;
  • an employee with a Group II disability with visual impairments or mental disorders is counted as two persons.

❗Important: only employees whose monthly salary exceeds the minimum wage are included in the calculation, even in cases of part-time employment. For example, if a person with a disability works at 0.5 FTE, their monthly salary must be UAH 8 650 gross and not UAH 4 325 as currently calculated for half-time employment.
 

ІІ. Administrative fines are abolished

Instead, a targeted contribution to a special fund is introduced, which employers must pay quarterly in case of non-compliance with the employment quota for persons with disabilities.

The amount of the contribution is determined depending on the number of workplaces not filled by employees with disabilities.
 

ІІІ. Reporting on the employment of persons with disabilities is reinstated

It must be submitted quarterly in electronic form to the territorial body of the Pension Fund of Ukraine at the main place of registration of the contribution payer. The report will indicate the average headcount of employees, the number of employed persons with disabilities, and compliance with the quota.

In case of non-compliance, the employer must independently calculate and pay the targeted contribution within 10 calendar days after the deadline for submitting the report.
 

Do you still have questions about the legislative changes that will affect businesses starting from 1 January 2026? Contact the experts at Forvis Mazars – we will help you navigate the new rules and avoid potential risks for your company.

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