Farmers Demand Unified Employee Reservation Rules as Regional Chaos Grows

Debate Over Revisions to Agricultural Employee Reservation Criteria

According to Главком: Ukraine is currently reviewing potential changes to the criteria for reserving agricultural workers. Ivan Slobodianyk, Executive Director of the All-Ukrainian Federation of Communities, has sharply criticized the inconsistent standards introduced by regional military administrations (RMAs). He is calling on the national government to establish uniform requirements, specifically proposing an unconditional reservation for farm founders or heads of farming enterprises, provided that no more than one person is reserved per 100 hectares of land.

Slobodianyk also noted that to qualify for reservation, businesses must demonstrate a certain cash turnover and an average salary of approximately 25,000 hryvnias. In his view, the criteria proposed by the RMAs lack a clear structure.

“We would like the Ministry of Economy, for instance, to issue methodological guidelines, because the criteria from the RMAs vary widely-from reasonable in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast to unreasonable in Cherkasy Oblast,” he emphasized.

Document Submission Issues and New Criteria

Furthermore, Slobodianyk highlighted problems with the document submission process, stating that

“you can submit documents and receive no response at all. That is why specific deadlines should be set, within which you must be given a clear answer.”

He also pointed out that the Ministry of Economy’s position is to avoid involvement in reservation matters. “But we are not a federal state; we are a unitary one. The government should develop common approaches rather than leaving everything to the discretion of the RMAs,” he added.

In late May, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Resolution No. 692, initiating a review of the criteria for determining criticality in business. All existing decisions on company criticality will remain valid until the end of their term, but no later than September 1, 2026. Some RMAs have already issued their own proposals for new regional criteria, and draft updated criteria must be approved by the government. Possible criteria from the RMAs may include:

• land area size
• number of employees
• annual revenue
• amount of taxes paid per hectare

These changes have caused concern among farmers, who are worried about the implications of the new reservation rules.

The ongoing debate over revisions to agricultural employee reservation criteria represents a critical step in ensuring stability in Ukraine’s agricultural sector. Slobodanyk’s position highlights the need for unified requirements, which could simplify procedures for business owners and reduce regional disparities. At the same time, the lack of clear timelines for reviewing documents creates additional hurdles for farmers trying to adapt to the new conditions.

The ongoing discussions about employee reservation criteria highlight the broader challenges facing the agricultural sector. As farmers push for more consistent regulations, the Economy Ministry's lack of clarity on new reservation guidelines adds to the uncertainty. Understanding these developments is crucial for stakeholders navigating the complex landscape of agricultural labor in Ukraine.