Economist Andriy Dlihach proposes allowing each employer to reserve 15-20% of key employees on the condition of an official salary of about 55 thousand UAH. The idea provides an alternative to the status of a critically important enterprise, but the government has not approved it. This is reported by Minfin.
Reservation by Salary Criterion: What Dlihach Proposed in November 2026
Doctor of Economics, head of Advanter Group Andriy Dlihach voiced the concept during the program Thoughts Aloud on the YouTube channel Shelter. According to his idea, enterprises will independently determine the personnel without whom they cannot operate.
The main conditions of the proposed model are:
- employers will have the right to reserve regardless of critical status;
- the quota will cover 15-20% of employees who could be subject to mobilization;
- the benchmark for the official salary will be approximately 55 thousand UAH;
- the key personnel will be marked by the employer through Diia.
The economist emphasizes that it is not just about managers. Necessary for business can be tractor drivers, managers, and other employees upon whom daily operations depend.
Earlier, while working on the concept, a salary of about 45 thousand UAH was discussed. The current benchmark is 10 thousand UAH or approximately 22% higher. At the same time, the proposed 55 thousand UAH should not be perceived as already established salary criterion for reservation.
Economic Reservation: Expectations and Unresolved Issues in 2026
Dlihach believes that the ability to retain key employees will motivate employers to legalize salaries. According to his estimate, de-shadowing could provide up to 250 billion UAH in additional budget revenues.
He did not provide a detailed methodology for this calculation during the discussion. Therefore, the amount should be viewed as an estimate from the concept author, not a confirmed forecast of state revenues. The economist suggests directing additional resources towards recruitment for the Defense Forces.
To assess the model, further clarifications are needed: from what number the quota will be calculated, how it will be rounded for small businesses, and what will happen to the status of the employee after a salary change. Without these rules, the employer cannot accurately determine the available number of reservations.
A separate question is the accessibility of the salary threshold. Companies with lower incomes may find it harder to meet such a condition, even if the employee is essential for their work.
Dlihach also calls for ensuring predictability of requirements at least for the cycle of confirming criticality. The discussion is ongoing against the backdrop of recent changes to reservation rules, but his proposal does not yet create new grounds for issuing deferments.