“Stand Up in Solidarity,” Conference on Ukraine Urged

Ukrainian Civil Society and EU Policymakers Unite to Promote Workers’ Rights Amid Ongoing War

Ukrainian civil society representatives joined forces with European policymakers at a recent conference in Brussels to address the critical role of civil organizations and Trade Unions in opposing what was described as “Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.”

The event took place against the backdrop of increasing pressure from U.S. political figures, with claims that former President Donald Trump continues “to pile increasing pressure on Ukrainians to hand over their natural resources and land in exchange for American promises of protection.”

The conference drew a diverse group of speakers, including Ukraine’s Ambassador to the EU, frontline journalists, care workers, environmental advocates, and academics. Together, they explored pathways to rebuild a democratic Ukraine rooted in equality and the protection of workers’ rights.

A significant portion of the discussion centered on the consequences of martial law on the labour sector, the threat of “vulture capitalism” exploiting Ukraine’s unstable economy, and the suppression of Trade Unions, especially in territories occupied during the ongoing conflict.

Finnish MEP Li Andersson (Vasemmistoliitto) emphasized the importance of supporting Ukrainian labour rights, stating:

“In our support for Ukraine, we must also support Ukrainian workers and unions in their struggle for workers’ rights. Martial law has meant zero-hours contracts, restrictions on collective bargaining, and increased working hours. Union actions and strikes have been banned. This is not the kind of social progress that Ukrainian workers want. We need to support Ukraine to meet international social and labour standards, which are also key elements of post-war reconstruction and EU accession negotiations.”

Swedish MEP Jonas Sjöstedt (Vänsterpartiet) echoed these sentiments:

“The war in Ukraine is not only raging on the front lines. The battles taken by labour rights defenders, climate activists, and women’s rights activists are shaping and will continue to shape Ukraine’s future. We must stand up in solidarity with these movements, especially in times of war, and we will continue to do so. We must continue to stand up for workers’ rights in the drafting of new labour codes in Ukraine, we must fight for the health care workers who work under even more dire conditions, and we must continue to drive change to stop the ecologically disastrous Russian shadow fleet.”

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