Reporting on the draft (Reg. No. 2902, refined) at the Committee’s meeting on June 4, one of its authors, people’s deputy Yaroslav Sukhyi defined the necessity of adopting the Labour Code by fundamental changes of the whole system of social relations happening in Ukraine in connection with forming market relations and social-economic transformations which are to various extents connected with labour.
Ya. Sukhyi explained elaboration of a new codified act in this sphere with the fact that current Labour Code of Ukraine was adopted in 1971 and, regardless of numerous amendments made, is outdated and does not correspond to modern economic conditions.
Apart from the Code, for the period of the country’s independence several laws on labour issues were adopted. These laws codified at the legislative level several labour issues which were not regulated or were regulated with sublegislative laws and regulations. Adoption of the abovementioned legislative acts had a positive effect on further improvement of legal regulation of labour relations in Ukraine.
In some cases, between the Code’s provisions and the laws’ provisions some collisions appear in connection with disagreement of certain provisions. Particularly, this concerns the order of providing unpaid leaves, and labour protection.
People’s
deputy claimed that the draft of a new Labour Code recognizes main bases and mechanism
of implementing labour rights stipulated by the Constitution and guarantees for
employees, creation of proper working conditions and ensuring protection of
employees and employers interests under market economy conditions.
According to the people’s deputy, provisions of the Code aim at adapting labour legislation of Ukraine to the European Social Charter (revised) and other international and legal acts.
Ya.Sukhyi informed that authors of the draft Labour Code took into account the majority of remarks of the Scientific Experts Office of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of June 18, 2013, made to the previous bill.
Representatives of trade unions and employers organizations upheld the draft Labour Code in the course of discussion. They expressed readiness to participate in further preparation of the draft code.
Representative of the Ministry of Social Policy and Labour noted that the draft code requires adjustment. He informed also that the Ministry of Social Policy and Labour will elaborate its own draft Labour Code, however, he did not mention any specific time period.
Committee members upheld the draft Labour Code, adoption of which should secure legal settlement of labor relations; promote adherence to state guarantees of workers’ labour rights; as well as establishment of proper conditions for protection of interests of employees and employers in the sphere of organization of working relations, etc.