Sick leave revolution: what will change for Ukrainians from April 2025
28 March 15:56
Starting April 4, 2025, sick leave payments will be made directly by the Pension Fund of Ukraine. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the Pension Fund of Ukraine.
This means that employers will no longer transfer these funds, and employees will receive payments directly. This provision is stipulated by the Law of Ukraine No. 4158-IX, which was adopted by the Verkhovna Radaon December 18, 2024.
What it means for Ukrainians:
- the money will come faster, without delays from the employer;
- control over payments will be strengthened, which will reduce possible fraud;
- employers will no longer have to wait for compensation from the state.
What other changes are introduced by Law No. 4158-IX
1. Restoration of the right to benefits for part-time employees. From now on, employees who are officially employed at several companies at once (part-time) will be entitled to receive temporary disability benefits (e.g., in case of illness or injury) and maternity benefits at each place of employment simultaneously.
This right applies to both external employees (people who work for different companies) and internal employees (those who work in different positions for the same employer).
Thus, if an employee is officially employed at two or more places, in case of illness, he or she receives compensation from both the main employer and the part-time employers.
2. The procedure for paying for the first five days of sick leave. In accordance with Law No. 4158-IX, the first five calendar days of sick leave must now be paid by all employers of a part-time employee. Previously, there was a practice of payment only at the main place of work, which significantly worsened the financial situation of part-time employees in case of temporary disability.
This innovation increases employee protection and ensures the fairness of social assistance, given that a person pays insurance premiums both at the main job and at additional jobs.
3. Payments from the sixth day of temporary disability. Starting from the sixth day of incapacity for work, temporary disability and maternity benefits are now financed by the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU). An important change is that the Pension Fund is now obliged to make payments for all jobs, not just the main one.
Thus, a part-time employee will receive full insurance coverage from the state fund after the first five days of illness, regardless of the number of jobs and employer status.
Why is it important?
These changes are an important step towards improving the social protection of citizens who work officially and pay taxes to the Ukrainian budget. Previously, many Ukrainians who officially worked several jobs at the same time were forced to give up payments or received only partial compensation in case of illness or pregnancy.
The new law No. 4158-IX not only strengthens social guarantees but also aims to create a more responsible and transparent system of labor relations in Ukraine. This will help to increase the level of official employment and reduce the share of “shadow” employment.
How will this affect the labor market?
Experts predict that the entry into force of these changes may increase the attractiveness of formal employment and reduce the number of informal workers. Employees will now be interested in formalizing their employment, as it guarantees full social insurance and protection of their interests.
In addition, employers will receive an additional incentive to formalize labor relations in a transparent and fair manner, which will have a positive impact on the budget and social policy of the state.
How to get a sick leave in Ukraine in 2025?
In March 2025, you can get a sick leave in Ukraine as follows: if a person is sick and cannot work, he or she should contact his or her family doctor or a specialist in the disease. After the examination and diagnosis, the doctor issues an electronic sick leave certificate (e-sick leave), which is automatically entered into the healthcare system.
After the e-sick leave is issued, information about it becomes available to the employer through a special electronic register. The employee does not need to provide a paper document.
As for payment, the first 5 days of sickness are paid by the employer, and starting from the 6th day, payments are made by the Pension Fund of Ukraine.
The amount of sick pay depends on the person’s insurance record:
- If the length of service is less than 3 years, the person receives 50% of his or her average salary.
- With 3 to 5 years of service – 60%.
- With 5 to 8 years of service – 70%.
- More than 8 years of service – 100%.
Thus, in March 2025, the procedure for obtaining sick leave will remain digital and simple, with certain features of payment depending on the length of service and form of employment.
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