Ukrainian Lawmakers Propose $20 Billion Funding Bill for Teacher and Social Worker Pay Raises

Proposed Amendments to the 2026 State Budget

According to Главком: A group of Ukrainian Members of Parliament has submitted draft legislation to amend the 2026 State Budget. The bill aims to secure 20 billion hryvnias (approximately $500 million USD) to fund previously mandated salary increases for teachers and social workers. This legislative initiative follows appeals from Igor Terekhov, head of the Association of Frontline Cities and Communities, and other community representatives, who highlighted the severe financial strain caused by government decrees ordering the pay raises without providing the necessary funds.

According to earlier government resolutions, teacher salaries are to be raised by 40%, while social workers' pay is set to increase by 2.5 times. However, the state budget currently lacks the specific allocations required to implement these mandates. The existing educational subsidy does not cover preschools, vocational schools, or arts institutions, and the social sector has been left without targeted financial support for these increased costs.

Funding Source and Legislative Support

The proposed bill outlines a plan to increase general fund revenues by 20 billion hryvnias. This funding is expected to be generated from additional tax revenues resulting from efforts to formalize the economy, a process often referred to as 'de-shadowing'. The draft law has been co-signed by 38 MPs. As Danilo Getmantsev, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, stated:

“The decision to raise salaries is correct, but its implementation requires financial support from the state.” - Danilo Getmantsev

Getmantsev further emphasized that the vast majority of local communities would be unable to cover the increased wage costs for social workers from their own budgets. The Association of Frontline Cities and Communities had already petitioned the government to compensate for these expenses. Consequently, the new bill is designed to provide the essential state funding needed to execute the planned salary hikes.

Raising pay for educators and social workers is a critical step toward improving conditions in these vital professions, especially amid ongoing economic instability. The successful passage of this bill would significantly impact the financial stability of educational and social institutions, which are currently grappling with insufficient budgetary support. This legislative effort underscores the state's necessary role in ensuring stability within these foundational sectors of society.