Global Employer of Record (EOR) in Ukraine

Embracing Global Talent: Leveraging EOR for Effective International Hiring

The global business landscape is rapidly evolving, and the opportunities for building a diverse, international team are expanding. However, many business leaders find themselves constrained by the complexities of global hiring. Concerns over legal and tax compliance and the intricacies of local employment laws often overshadow the potential benefits of a global workforce. As a result, companies may miss out on key advantages such as increased agility, access to new revenue streams, and an enhanced global market presence.

In this context, the emergence and adoption of Global Employer of Record (EOR) services has been transformative. The right Global EOR partner can unlock the full potential of global hiring, enabling businesses to bypass the traditional challenges and directly access a world of benefits. This includes:

Compliant and Risk-Free Hiring: Global EOR services enable the confident hiring of international employees without the risks of non-compliance or misclassification.
Efficient and Cost-Effective Recruitment: Streamlining the hiring process reduces costs and accelerates the pace of building a global team.
Improved International Employee Experience: EORs ensure that employees around the world are supported in a compliant and culturally aware work environment.
Fulfilling Global Expansion Ambitions: With a diverse global team, achieving international growth objectives becomes a tangible reality.

What Is a Global Employer of Record (EOR)

A Global Employer of Record (EOR) is an organisation that facilitates the hiring and management of employees in countries where a company does not have an established presence. This service is particularly advantageous for businesses looking to expand their operations internationally without establishing a legal entity in each country.

The Employer of Record in Ukraine becomes the official employer for tax and legal purposes while the employee continues to work directly for the client company.The key functions of a Global EOR include handling all legal and HR responsibilities such as payroll, taxation, employment contracts, and compliance with local labour laws.

This arrangement allows companies to rapidly deploy staff in new markets, ensuring that they are fully compliant with local regulations, which can be complex and varied across different jurisdictions.For the employee, being hired through a Global EOR means they receive a local contract, are paid in local currency, and have their taxes and social security contributions managed according to local laws.

This is particularly beneficial for companies in the early stages of international expansion or those operating in industries with rapid market fluctuations.

Acumen International provides comprehensive services for building a global team, handling all aspects from hiring to compliance. Here’s what a Global Employer of Record can do:

1. Recruitment	2. Global Mobility	3. Checks	4. Onboarding	5. Payroll Administration	6. Working Time & PTO Processing	7. Benefits Administration	8. Tax Administration & Reporting	Offboarding
Talent skilled in highly-specialized areas	Employee Work Visa and Work Permit sponsorship	Health checks	Employment Agreement drafting	In-country registration with statutory bodies	Working hours	Mandatory Benefits	Tax Reporting frequency and requirements;	Employment agreement termination:
Executive search	Dependent Visa	Criminal record checks	Compliant worker onboarding on your behalf	Day-to-day payroll management	Overtime	Health insurance	Employer taxes & contributions	Dismissal – by the employer
Contingency workforce	Visa extension	Background checks	Account setup in the payroll and HR system	Monthly pay slips or other pay frequency	Public holidays	Workers’ compensation	Employee taxes & contributions	Resignation – by the employee
	Application for a sponsor license for a foreign national	Education checks	Employee data entry and records maintenance	Accruals	Annual leave	Unemployment insurance	Withholding tax	Termination by mutual agreement
	Relocation assistance		Managing probation periods	Allowances	Parental leave	Voluntary Benefits	Local tax payments and reporting to local authorities	Notice period handling
				13th and 14th salary	Sick leave	Share plans for executives	End of financial year reporting	Final settlement & severance payments
					Additional leave	Bonuses & Equipment provision		De-registration with statutory bodies
						Expenses reimbursement & business trip processing
						Health insurance, dental treatment

Key Functions of Global Employer of Record (EOR)

Legal and HR Responsibilities: Manages payroll, taxation, and employment contracts and ensures compliance with local labour laws.
Local Compliance: Ensures that employment practices adhere to the legal requirements of the employee’s country.

Advantages for Companies

International Expansion: Enables businesses to expand into new markets without establishing a local entity.
Rapid Talent Deployment: Allows quick staffing in new countries, aiding business growth and market testing.
Flexibility: Offers a solution for testing new markets without long-term commitments or the costs of setting up foreign subsidiaries.
Risk Management: Reduces the risk of non-compliance with local laws, which can be complex and vary by country.

Advantages for Employees

Local Contract: Employees receive a contract that complies with local laws.
Local Pay and Benefits: Paid in local currency, with taxes and social security managed locally.
Seamless Experience: This is similar to being directly employed by the company they work for, with the added security of local legal and HR support.

Strategic Global Expansion Solution

Global Mobility: The Global Employer of Record is ideal for companies aiming to manage international employees efficiently. It offers streamlined market entry with minimal investment.
New Markets Testing: Facilitates businesses in the early stages of international expansion or industries with rapid market changes by providing a flexible and low-risk entry into new markets.
Streamlined Market Entry: Enables lightweight investment in new markets, reducing the complexities and costs typically associated with setting up foreign operations.
Easy Exit Strategy: Offers compliant and straightforward mechanisms for terminating international employment, ensuring legal adherence and reducing potential liabilities.

Enhancing Intellectual Property Protection through Global EOR Services

Navigating intellectual property (IP) management in international business requires a strategic approach, especially when dealing with various jurisdictions. A Global Employer of Record (Global EOR) plays a crucial role in this scenario, offering a structured method for handling IP rights across different countries.

Acumen International: Employer of Record in Ukraine

Acumen International supports foreign companies with compliant, role-specific employment solutions in Ukraine — particularly where traditional entity-based hiring is unfeasible due to regulatory uncertainty, operational disruption, or urgent retention needs.

Service Scope

We act as the legal employer for Ukrainian nationals or residents on behalf of international clients. Our infrastructure enables formal employment contracts, compliant payroll, and full adherence to Ukrainian labour law — without the need for a local entity. Our service also covers clients transitioning from contractor or freelance arrangements to reduce exposure to misclassification.

Employer Responsibilities

We handle:

Employment contract structuring in line with Ukraine’s Labour Code
Timely payroll processing, income tax withholding, and social contributions
Management of sick leave, holidays, and statutory benefits
Legal termination procedures including notice, documentation, and severance

All responsibilities are met in Ukrainian and English to provide transparency and audit readiness for your internal teams.

Immigration and Global Mobility Support

Where relocation is necessary, we coordinate cross-border compliance support for Ukrainian employees working remotely from other countries. This includes advising on EU/UK mobility pathways and adapting employment terms accordingly. For dual citizens or employees returning from abroad, we help re-establish legal employment within Ukraine under local compliance.

Risk and Compliance Oversight

Our model is designed for full legal defensibility. We maintain an active compliance watch on martial law updates, tax reform changes, and labour protections to ensure your workforce remains legally engaged. We also offer structured transitions from informal or contractor setups, minimising exposure during audits or disputes.

Use Cases

Re-onboarding key Ukrainian staff after entity closure or operational exit
Rapid employment of local engineers, marketers, or support staff in Ukraine
Cross-border coordination for displaced teams operating from EU jurisdictions
Crisis-proof workforce continuity planning under martial law conditions

Acumen International’s Ukrainian EOR solution is built for employers who need speed, compliance, and control — without cutting corners.

Spotlight on Ukraine

Ukraine is a key country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west, and Romania, Moldova, and the Black Sea to the south. Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine remains a critical regional labour hub and exporter of industrial and agricultural commodities.

Capital: Kyiv
Population: Estimated at 37.9 million (mid-2024, UN data); approximately 31 million reside in government-controlled areas due to wartime displacement
Official Language: Ukrainian
Currency: Hryvnia (₴, UAH)

Trade and Economic Context
Ukraine is among the world’s largest exporters of grain, particularly wheat, barley, and corn, and plays a central role in the global supply of sunflower oil, iron and steel, coal, and refined petroleum. Its major trade partners include China, Turkey, Germany, Poland, and Italy.

Minimum Wage and Salary Structure
The national minimum wage is currently set at UAH 6,700 per month (as of January 2024). This rate may be adjusted during wartime based on economic directives. Mandatory salary caps apply to certain roles in the public sector, but there are no statutory limits in the private sector.

Ukraine does not require a 13th or 14th salary. However, many employers offer annual or performance-based bonuses at their discretion, particularly in white-collar sectors and international firms.