Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, opened the hearings. He declared that the Constitution of Ukraine stated that the individuals, their life and health, immunity, safety and healthy labor conditions were the highest social value. Thus, the state is obliged to protect the workers´ life in the process of the labor activity, the speaker emphasized.
According to M. Tomenko, fundamental principles of the state policy on labour protection as defined by the legislation of Ukraine, arrange appropriate and safe labour conditions, prevent accidents and occupational illnesses, adapt the labour processes to the worker´s capacities, consider their health and psychological states, which is harmonized with the principles of the worker health protection as defined by the Convention of International Labor Organization and European Union Directives.
Oleksandr Khokhotva, Head of the State Committee of Ukraine on Occupational Safety and Health, and Mining Supervision, declared that observance of the constitutional rights of citizens on safe and healthy working conditions is the fundamental principle of the state policy in the sphere of occupational safety and health.
O. Khokhotva presented the statistical data on the accidents at work in Ukraine for the years of independence, which was said to prove the decrease in the number of accidents at work. Thus, the number of accidents at work in 2009 decreased in 10 times in comparison with 1992.
He drew attention to the problems of the occupational illnesses.
The Head of the State Committee informed that the Committee initiated introduction of the differentiated insurance rates, and division of the companies into the groups of professional risk depending on the occupational safety system.
"To reform the state administration of the occupational safety and health, the bodies of state supervision over the observance of legislative and other normative-legal acts on occupational safety and health shall be reformed. Secondly, the Law "On the Fundamentals of the State Supervision and Control over the Economic Activity" shall not extend onto the state supervision over the occupational safety, as the restrictions of the supervision over the occupational safety contravene the international conventions 81 and 129 ratified by the Verkhovna Rada. Thirdly, the status of the central executive body in charge of occupational safety and health shall be enhanced, the agency being re-named into the State Supervision Service of Ukraine. Fourthly, the governmental decree shall set the authorities of the local state administrations concerning the occupational safety, and restore the National Life Safety Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine," O.Khokhotva summed up.
Oleh Shevchuk, First Deputy Chairman of the Social Policy and Labour Committee, declared that the state register of occupational illnesses shall be compiled to guarantee register of and control over the professional illnesses, analyze their causes, and set up the risk groups.
Serhii Ukrainets, Deputy Head of the Federation of the Trade Unions of Ukraine, stated that Viktor Yanukovych, President of Ukraine, supported the initiative and commissioned the Government to submit the motions on the reforms of the occupational safety system.
The attendants of the hearings listened to the Guidelines of the Parliamentary Hearings.