The Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Koshulynskyi in his opening speech welcomed “quick reaction of the specialized committee to the innovations and projects under discussion”. He named the issue suggested for consideration “quite a difficult one”. “In view of its importance to the society, I call all of you to serious and open talk that would make it impossible for the law-makers to even slightly decrease the mechanism of social protection,” stressed R.Koshulynskyi.
The Deputy Minister of Social Policy Vyacheslav Kolomiets informed about the draft Decree of the President of Ukraine “On the State Service of Ukraine on matters of Labour and Employment”, elaborated by the Ministry. According to him, it is suggested establish the State service by reorganizing the State Employment Service and the State Labour Inspection of Ukraine and determine the structure, main functions and tasks of the new service.
V.Kolomiets noted that a merge of the two bodies of power into one will allow refine mechanisms of implementation of state policy in the sphere of population employment; introduce new methods and forms of work; and decrease the pressure on employers.
Chairperson of the subcommittee on labour relations and employment of the Committee on Social Policy and Labour Svitlana Fabrykant informed that the Committee learned about the merge from mass media. The people’s deputy informed that the Committee took the decision to study this issue and grant a hearing to experts to find out whether there is a need in such a merge.
S.Fabrykant informed also that the Committee has established a working group that expressed concern with the fact that after the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement is signed Ukraine will lose its experience in this sphere and will violate the ratified International Labour Organization Convention No. 81, since the new service will be financed at the expense of Employment Fund costs, one third of which is made up of employers.
“The merge of two structures and their functions will only worsen the work of each of them, since the State Employment Service is a social body, while the Inspection is a controlling one,” noted S.Fabrykant.
Participants of the round table discussion noted that the issue of merge of the State Employment Service of Ukraine with the State Labour Inspection of Ukraine needs to be comprehensively studied.
It was noted also that the two structures have different financing sources and implementation of the abovementioned idea will, first of all, require amendments to the respective laws.
The proposals that were voiced out during the round table discussion will be considered during the preparation of the respective recommendations by the Committee.