On 14–15 July 2026, managers and employees from the central office and regional branches of the National Mediation and Conciliation Service participated in the seminar "Labour relations in Ukraine in the context of war, post-war reconstruction, and European integration: challenges for social dialogue and conciliation institutions".

The seminar focused on current trends in the development of labour relations in the EU and Ukraine, the challenges that the social dialogue system and reconciliation institutions face, and the development of strategic approaches to the future of the National Mediation and Conciliation Service in the context of war, post-war reconstruction, and European integration.

The main topics of the seminar included:

• the Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2025 on the right to organise and the right to bargain collectively;
• the development of Ukrainian labour legislation in line with European standards in the context of preparation of the draft Labour Code of Ukraine;
• structural changes in the labour market, labour shortages, and emerging social risks;
• digitalization, remote work, platform employment, and new models of work organization;
• the integration of veterans, the return of mobilized workers, and the employment of people with disabilities;
• the transformation of social dialogue and the role of the National Mediation and Conciliation Service in Ukraine's European integration process.

Particular attention was paid to the case law of the European Committee of Social Rights and the EU acquis in the field of labour and social rights. The keynote presentation was delivered by Mr George Theodosius, Vice-President of the European Committee of Social Rights and ad hoc judge for Greece at the European Court of Human Rights. The seminar also featured leading national experts of the Council of Europe in the field of labour law, Ms Yana Simutina and Mr Mykhailo Shumylo.

An important part of the program was dedicated to collaborative work on the vision, strategic priorities, and future role of the National Mediation and Conciliation Service.

The seminar was organized by the Aspen Institute Kyiv in cooperation with the National Mediation and Conciliation Service, with the support of the Council of Europe project “Strengthening the social dimension in Ukraine”.

The Council of Europe project “Strengthening the social dimension in Ukraine” is implemented within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine "Resilience, Recovery, Reconstruction" for 2023-2026. The Project aims to ensure that general public and people from vulnerable groups, including war-affected population in Ukraine, benefit from targeted social protection and support.