Ukraine reconsiders March 8: in the Verkhovna Rada, they propose to replace the holiday with Ukrainian Women’s Day

A draft resolution has been registered in Ukraine to replace March 8 with a new national holiday — Ukrainian Women’s Day. The document has already been submitted for consideration to the parliament leadership.

The initiative fits into the general process of decommunization and the revision of the calendar of state dates against the backdrop of war and the rethinking of national identity.

What is known about draft resolution No. 15052

Information about the registration of draft resolution No. 15052 has appeared on the official portal of the Verkhovna Rada. The document provides for the establishment of a new holiday — Ukrainian Women’s Day.

Currently, it is specifically a draft resolution that has been sent for consideration to the parliament leadership. The specific date of the new holiday within this initiative is not publicly specified.

March 8 is officially enshrined in Ukraine as a national holiday — International Women’s Day. Its status is prescribed in Article 73 of the Labor Code of Ukraine as a holiday and non-working day.

However, during martial law, special labor legislation norms apply. Law No. 2136-IX of March 15, 2022, temporarily suspends the provisions on holidays and non-working days. This means that even with the official status of March 8, additional days off or the transfer of rest days are not provided.

Why the cancellation of March 8 is being discussed again

Discussions about the advisability of celebrating March 8 in Ukraine have been ongoing for several years. The main argument of supporters of changes is the Soviet origin of the date and its establishment in the calendar during the USSR era.

Previously, an attempt was made in parliament to change the calendar of national holidays. Bill No. 9009 proposed to cancel March 8 and introduce Ukrainian Women’s Day on February 25 — the birthday of Lesya Ukrainka. At that time, the initiative did not receive support.

The current registration of the new project shows that the issue remains relevant.

For part of society, March 8 is a social and cultural holiday, long detached from Soviet ideology. For others, it is a symbol of the past, which Ukraine is gradually abandoning.

Legal and political consequences

If the parliament supports the project, amendments to labor legislation and the official calendar of holidays will be required.

It is important to consider that in the conditions of martial law, the issue of additional days off is not a priority. In fact, even now March 8 is not accompanied by special benefits in terms of transferring days off.

From the perspective of domestic policy, the discussion of the cancellation of March 8 reflects a broader process of revising symbols and dates associated with the Soviet legacy.

NANews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency regularly analyzes how changes in Ukrainian legislation and symbolic politics affect social processes and the international perception of the country, especially in the context of war and reforms.

The decision on project No. 15052 will depend on the position of the parliamentary majority and the political situation.

At the moment, March 8 officially remains a national holiday in Ukraine. However, the very fact of registering a new document shows that the calendar of national dates continues to change along with the country.