Starting January 1, 2027, Ukraine will launch a large-scale reform of wages in the cultural sector. Employees of state and municipal cultural institutions will begin receiving higher base salaries, which for most staff will increase by 70%. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture.

Who is eligible for a 70% increase

The new provisions will affect a wide range of specialists. The 70% increase will apply to employees whose salaries are determined by the Unified Tariff Grid. This category includes employees of state and municipal cultural institutions, as well as staff of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation and the Ukrainian Book Institute.

The Cabinet of Ministers' resolution was adopted based on a joint proposal from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Economy. The government expects that the reform will make work in the cultural sector more competitive, help retain professionals, and enhance the prestige of these professions.

Special procedure for those with coefficients

A separate calculation mechanism has been established for a portion of workers. If an employee's base salary is already calculated using increasing coefficients, the procedure for the increase will differ:

  • If the coefficient does not exceed 1.3, the base salary will increase by 40%.

The Ministry of Culture emphasizes that this is not a one-time decision for a single industry, but rather the beginning of a wage reform for the entire public sector. According to the Vice-Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture, Tatyana Berezhna, the next step should be a transition to a modern and understandable wage system.

Plans for other sectors and recommendations for regions

The Ministry of Economy added that similar changes are planned for other sectors of the public sector in the future. The government has already instructed regional and Kyiv City military administrations to ensure the implementation of the resolution in subordinate cultural institutions.

Local self-government bodies were also recommended to adopt new approaches to wage payments and review the operation of the network of cultural institutions. The goal is to direct the saved funds to increase workers' salaries wherever possible.

Labor market context

The decision to raise salaries is made against the backdrop of rising labor costs in the country. Over the past year, the average salary in job vacancies in Ukraine has risen from 24,000 to 30,000 hryvnias. The State Employment Service also regularly publishes data on the highest-paid professions and regions with high wages.