Ukrainian Parliament Considers Bill to Reinstate Public Holiday Observances

Bill Proposes Reinstating Days Off for Public Holidays

According to ХВИЛЯ: A bill, registered in Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada under number 14403, seeks to restore days off for official state holidays, which were suspended due to the ongoing martial law. Proposed by MP Oleksiy Honcharenko, the legislation aims to reinstate non-working days for civilians on all officially recognized holidays. This move comes as the country balances wartime necessities with civilian well-being.

Holidays Targeted for Reinstatement

The proposal outlines the following holidays for which days off would be restored:

• 1 January - New Year's Day
• 8 March - International Women's Day
• 12 April - Easter
• 1 May - Labour Day
• 8 May - Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism
• 31 May - Trinity Sunday
• 28 June 2026 - Constitution Day of Ukraine
• 5 July - Day of Ukrainian Statehood
• 24 August - Independence Day of Ukraine
• 1 October - Defender of Ukraine Day
• 25 December - Christmas Day

For military personnel, the bill provides alternative compensation, such as adding the holiday time to their leave or offering monetary compensation for service rendered on a holiday. Oleksiy Honcharenko emphasized the importance of moral support, stating,

"A single day with loved ones can give them more strength to carry on than continuing to work to the point of exhaustion."

The legislation is designed to bolster the morale of both civilians and military personnel during a difficult period. Its passage could significantly impact the social atmosphere in Ukraine, particularly given the protracted military conflict. Restoring days off for holidays would allow citizens to recuperate and maintain connections with family, which is crucial for psychological well-being. The bill also underscores the need to address the circumstances of service members who continue their duties even on holidays, potentially improving their morale.