Limit of 80 thousand: the Rada proposes to cut salaries of officials, the government warns
10 October 18:20
Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko commented on the proposal to limit the salaries of officials to UAH 80,000. Speaking in the Verkhovna Rada during an hour of questions to the government, she emphasized that highly qualified personnel should receive decent pay. This was reported by Interfax-Ukraine, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
“If we want to have high-level specialists who will work for the state, they must receive decent wages,” Svyrydenko said.
What is the initiative about?
on October 1, Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk and Finance Committee Chairman Danylo Hetmantsev submitted a proposal to the state budget for 2026: to limit the salaries of officials to UAH 80,000 per month. According to them, the idea is to make officials’ remuneration more transparent and commensurate with the state’s economic capabilities.
Why it is important
The level of public sector salaries has repeatedly been the subject of public debate. Citizens often compare high payments to officials with the average income in the country. At the same time, the government emphasizes that without competitive salaries, the state risks losing specialists who can work in the private sector or abroad.
Arguments for and against
- Supporters of the restrictions say that during the war, the state must demonstrate restraint and rationality in spending.
- Opponents point out that the UAH 80,000 ceiling may scare away professional managers needed for reform and recovery.
This is not the first time that the issue of limiting payments to officials has been discussed in Ukraine. In 2020, a temporary limit of UAH 47,000 was introduced during the pandemic. After a wave of criticism and court challenges, the restriction was lifted.
Against the backdrop of a full-scale war, the issue has escalated again. On the one hand, there is the budget deficit and social spending. On the other hand, there is the need to retain management personnel.
Stefanchuk and Hetmantsev’s proposal has yet to be considered by the parliament as part of the 2026 budget. The government promises to seek a balance between financial discipline and motivation for professionals.
The state budget for 2026 is expected to have a deficit of more than UAH 1.5 trillion, which is to be covered by Western loans and aid. Discussions about cutting spending on officials coincide with negotiations with the IMF, which insists on increasing the efficiency of public spending.
