Ukraine's parliament restores competitive hiring for civil service and local government posts
Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, adopted a law restoring competitive hiring for civil service and local government positions through a phased process. The legislation also introduces integrity screening, preferences for veterans where qualifications are equal, career-development mechanisms and transition rules for officials appointed without competition during the war.
Key points
- The Verkhovna Rada adopted bill No. 13478-1 in second reading and as a whole, with 247 MPs voting in favor.
- Category A hiring competitions may begin when the law takes effect; category B competitions are scheduled for one month later, and category C and local government competitions for two months later.
- Veterans and women veterans receive preference when candidates have equal qualifications or professional competence.
- Integrity screening will cover category A candidates and corruption-risk category B and C posts, whose list and screening methodology will be set by the government.
- The law cancels dismissal based on a single negative performance assessment and introduces personnel and candidate reserves, induction periods and internal competitions.
- Officials appointed without competition during the war are subject to transition arrangements; in areas where fighting has ended, they may remain in post for no more than 12 months.
- The law forms part of Ukraine's commitments under the EU's Ukraine Facility and public-administration reform roadmap.
Why it matters
The law reverses the wartime suspension of competitive public-service hiring and sets practical rules for selecting officials. Its provisions on veteran preferences, integrity checks and appointments made without competition directly affect governance and public appointments, while the Ukraine Facility linkage ties the reform to Ukraine's commitments under the EU program.
What happened
The Verkhovna Rada adopted bill No. 13478-1 in second reading and as a whole, with 247 MPs voting in favor. It provides for the gradual restoration of competitive hiring for civil service and local government positions, beginning with category A posts, followed by category B and C posts and municipal jobs.
The legislation gives veterans and women veterans priority when candidates have equal qualifications or professional competence. It also introduces integrity screening for category A candidates and for corruption-risk category B and C positions, with the latter list and methodology to be determined by the government.
Other reforms include personnel and candidate reserves, induction for new employees, internal competitions, career advancement following excellent annual assessments and civil-service contracts of up to three years. Dismissal based on a single negative assessment is abolished, while dismissal criteria and the political neutrality requirements for the Higher Civil Service Corps Commission are tightened.
For officials appointed without competition during the war, the law establishes transition arrangements and deadlines for competitions. In regions where fighting has ended, an appointee may remain in post for no more than 12 months and must submit proof of command of the state language within six months.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reporting focused on the parliamentary vote and the operational rules for restoring competitive hiring, including separate timelines for each category of positions and transition arrangements for wartime appointees. It also highlighted the direct implications of the law for wartime public administration, particularly the preference for veterans and the rules governing appointments made without competition.
How international sources describe it
The law is presented as part of Ukraine's reform commitments under the EU's Ukraine Facility, the Public Administration Reform Roadmap and the Public Administration Reform Strategy for 2026–2030.
Background
Competitive hiring for civil service and local government positions was suspended after the beginning of the full-scale war. The restored framework governs entry into service, career advancement and dismissal. It also introduces personnel and candidate reserves, induction periods for new employees, internal competitions for categories B and C and civil-service contracts of up to three years.