This Bill (Reg. No.3694), introduced by the People's Deputies, I.Bokyi, I. Bondarchuk, M. Melnychuk and A. Buhaets, proposes amendments to the Law of Ukraine 'On Education', Public Health Basic Law, and Culture Basic Law, apertaining to establishing additional social guarantees for the employees of State and Municipal Educational, Cultural and Public Health Institutions.
The Authors propose that new provisions be added in the current Legislation envisaging the following:
- Provision of Housing for Employees of the State and Municipal Educational, Cultural and Public Health Institutions from the State Fund, or Interest-free Credit for a period of up to 20 years, towards the improvement of their present housing.
- increases in Retirement Benefits for those individuals with the necessary employment record (20 years for men, 15 years for women, using the procedure applied to State Officers, Local Government Officers, Scientists, etc) in State and Municipal Educational, Cultural and Public Health Institutions;
- provision of financial support upon retirement, amounting to ten monthly salary payments (wages) subject to proof of the required employment record within State and Municipal Educational, Cultural and Public Health Institutions;
- preservation of social amenities;
- an annual increase in Retirement Benefit, to an amount equal to 80% of the National average wage increase in the previous year, for employees of the relevant State and Municipal institutions.
It is suggested that the Right to Retirement Benefits, as provided by this Bill, additionally should be applied to those individuals who retire, or have retired, before the Law comes into effect, and who have the required Employment Record within State or Municipal Educational, Cultural and Public Health Institutions ( 20 years for men, and 15 years for women).
The implementation of this Law will require additional expenditure from the State and Local Budget totalling almost one billion Hryvnias monthly.
In view of the above, the Authors suggest that this Law comes into effect from 1 June 2008.
The Central Scientific Experts Office of The Office and Administrative Department of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine considers this legislative initiative to be premature, and is of the opinion that the matter of further improvement in the financial security of these categories of employees should only be considered once the implementation of those requirements included in current Legislation have been accessed.