On July 11, the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, the National Bank of Ukraine and representatives of big business signed Charter of sustainability of human capital at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome. Such companies as Metinvest Group, PrivatBank, DTEK and Naftogaz of Ukraine joined the document, and more than 100 Ukrainian companies expressed their willingness to support the initiative.
The charter was developed by the Ministry of Economy in partnership with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs and the National Bank with the support of the EBRD, the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) and the international consulting company Korn Ferry.
“The Human Capital Sustainability Charter is a key step towards rebuilding a strong and inclusive labor market in Ukraine. By focusing on human capital, we aim to create a sustainable economic future that will benefit all Ukrainians.” — said First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy Yuliya Svyridenko.
The document is designed to help businesses effectively respond to the challenges caused by the war: the economy has lost almost a third of production, the unemployment rate has reached 35% in 2023, it is currently 12%, but there is still the reintegration of veterans, the return of millions of refugees and the employment of more than six million IDPs.
“The EBRD is committed to supporting Ukraine’s recovery through initiatives such as the HCR Charter, which emphasizes the importance of workforce resilience and inclusive growth,” – explained EBRD president Odile Renaud-Basso.
The document encourages Ukrainian businesses to support employees, particularly veterans and displaced persons, by forming responsible HR strategies. The purpose of the Charter is to provide practical tools for human capital development, skills development, inclusiveness and transparency, as well as adapting work processes to staff needs.
“Human capital is the foundation and the main driving force for the economic recovery and further development of our country, and the financial sector must play a key role in supporting those who need it most. In particular, the people who are at the front today, the people who are near the front line, as well as our veterans who are returning to active economic life after service. That is why the National Bank joined the Charter and, together with the financial sector, consistently works to expand inclusive access to financial services and the creation of conditions for the full socio-economic reintegration of veterans”. – stressed the head of the NBU Andriy Pishnyi.
The document is based on nine principles — in particular, flexibility, support for veterans, continuous learning and public partnership. It is aligned with international standards and part of Ukraine’s national security strategy. The charter focuses on five areas: employment of veterans, reintegration of IDPs, flexible personnel management, development of diversity and long-term sustainability of the workforce.
“For us, the signing of the Charter is a logical step, because our focus is on implementing a personal approach to each employee. It is people who have become the support, thanks to which Metinvest has survived in the most difficult times and continues to work for the recovery and well-being of Ukraine.” – said Yuriy Ryzhenkov, CEO of Metinvest Group.
