The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Government of the Netherlands have launched a project to protect and prepare Ukraine’s energy workforce for sustainable recovery. This initiative comes at a time when energy workers in Ukraine continue to operate under extreme conditions due to ongoing attacks on critical infrastructure, putting their safety and wellbeing at significant risk. The project, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, workers’ and employers’ organizations, aims to support frontline energy personnel responsible for maintaining electricity, heating, and other essential services under heightened operational and security pressures.
Energy workers in Ukraine are performing vital duties under life-threatening circumstances, often facing shelling, unexploded ordnance, fatigue, and psychosocial stress. The project places occupational safety and health (OSH) at the core of its interventions, strengthening safety systems, expanding psychosocial support, and piloting inclusive workplace measures. These measures aim to enable the safe reintegration of veterans, women, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons into the energy workforce.
Beyond immediate safety concerns, the project focuses on long-term workforce preparedness by anticipating future skills needs and integrating OSH principles into training. It aligns with Ukraine’s transition toward a modern, decentralized, and greener energy system, including renewable energy and infrastructure recovery. By supporting both current and future workforce resilience, the initiative contributes to a safer and more sustainable energy sector in Ukraine.
The project, implemented in close coordination with the Government of Ukraine and labor organizations, forms part of the ILO Flagship Programme Safety + Health for All. This framework supports the ILO Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health, advancing workers’ fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment. Through this cooperation, the project delivers practical policy and workplace solutions that strengthen safety standards across high-risk sectors and supply chains, helping ensure continuity of essential energy services during the country’s ongoing recovery.
