Verkhovna Rada rejects initiative to cap officials' salaries at 80,000 hryvnia

Parliament refuses to introduce a cap on civil servants' remuneration

On 28 October, Members of Parliament did not support Amendment No. 1003 to the draft state budget for 2027. This amendment proposed establishing a maximum salary limit of 80,000 hryvnia per month for employees of government bodies, local self-government bodies, and budgetary institutions.

Only 157 deputies voted in favour of this change, whereas a majority of 226 votes is required to pass a decision. Previously, the parliament's budget committee also did not recommend supporting this initiative.

Who was subject to the restriction and who was excluded

The proposed limit was to apply to a wide range of officials, including:

• Members of Parliament;
• judges and judges of the Constitutional Court;
• members of the High Council of Justice and the High Qualification Commission of Judges;
• prosecutors;
• employees of the National Bank of Ukraine.

At the same time, the authors of the amendment proposed an exception for individuals involved in the defence of Ukraine and the repulsion of Russian aggression. The Cabinet of Ministers was to determine the exact list of positions to which the restriction would apply.

Motivation behind the initiative and other decisions of the session

The authors of the amendment proposed introducing the limit as one of the measures to save budget funds.

In addition, during the same session, parliamentarians rejected Amendment No. 611. It stipulated that plea agreements could not obligate defendants to pay funds to third parties: the money was to be transferred to the state budget or directed towards compensation for damages under a civil claim.