Appeal from the Association of Frontline Cities and Communities
During a conference attended by over 300 frontline communities, the Association of Frontline Cities and Communities passed a resolution calling on the government to allocate resources for increasing social workers' salaries. The Association's appeal to the Cabinet of Ministers stresses the urgent need for amendments to the State Budget to make this possible.
Communities near the front lines face a severely constrained tax base while simultaneously bearing heightened costs for security, infrastructure repair, and energy. Given these financial pressures, local representatives argue that proper state funding for social workers is essential. This situation is a direct consequence of the ongoing conflict, which has placed immense strain on local resources. Cabinet of Ministers Decree No. 1750, which mandates a pay increase for social and rehabilitation service workers, has already been passed and is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.
The Critical Need for State Support
Ihor Terekhov, a representative of the Association, emphasized that raising social workers' pay is a correct and long-overdue step.
Serhii Zavhorodnii added that communities are insisting on state support through subsidies or other compensation mechanisms.
Through this initiative, frontline communities are urging the government to recognize the importance of funding social workers to ensure adequate support for those operating under conditions of elevated risk and challenge.
This appeal underscores the severe economic and social pressures confronting these regions. Increasing salaries for social workers could be a crucial step in maintaining staff motivation and preserving vital human resources in an unstable environment. Consequently, the government must explore all available budgetary avenues to secure the necessary financing.