PLENARY MEETING OF THE SIXTH SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SIXTH CONVOCATION WAS HELD ON WEDNESDAY 10 MARCH
In the beginning of the morning plenary meeting, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, briefed on the results of the Parliament´s work at the plenary meetings on 9 March.
Representatives of the Deputy Factions presented their appeals, announcements and motions.У
The Parliamentarians scrutinized ratification issues.
The Bill on Ratification of the International Labour Organization Convention, 1985 (No. 161) concerning Occupational Health Services was presented by Oleksandr Bilovol, the First Deputy Minister of Public Health. He stated that pursuant to the Convention, occupational health services shall have such of the following functions: identification and assessment of the risks from health hazards in the workplace; surveillance of the factors in the working environment and working practices which may affect workers´ health, including sanitary installations, canteens and housing where these facilities are provided by the employer; advice on planning and organization of work, including the design of workplaces, on the choice, maintenance and condition of machinery and other equipment and on substances used in work.
Volodymyr Vecherko, the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on European Integration announced the Committee´s decision to recommend the Parliament ratification of the Convention.
V. Vecherko also declared that according to the Convention, occupational health services shall participate in the development of programs for the improvement of working practices as well as test and evaluate health aspects of new equipment; advice on occupational health, safety and hygiene and on ergonomics and individual and collective protective equipment. Moreover, these services shall survey workers´ health in relation to work, promote the adaptation of work to the worker; contribute to measures of vocational rehabilitation, collaborate in providing information, training and education in the fields of occupational health and hygiene and ergonomics, organize first aid and emergency treatment, participate in analysis of occupational accidents and occupational diseases, etc.
The People´s Deputies ratified the International Labour Organization Convention, 1985 (No. 161) concerning Occupational Health Services by 371 votes in favor.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine also ratified the Protocol on Amendments to the Agreement on Exemption from Duty, Taxes and Issue of Special Permits for the Shipment of Regulations, Models, Instruments and Standard Samples imported for Test and Metrological Certification of 10 February 1995 and he International Labour Organization Convention No. 139 of 1974 concerning Prevention and Control of Occupational Hazards caused by Carcinogenic Substances and Agents.
Yurii Stets, the Secretary of the Committee on Freedom of Speech and Information presented the Bill "On Amendments to the Law "On Television and Radio Broadcasting" (re Licence Provisions). He informed that the legislative act is aimed at the technicallegal correction of the Law "On Television and Radio Broadcasting" in the part of amendments to the references of certain clauses of the Law to its previous norms with the aim of their specification.
The Bill was adopted as a basis and in its entirety by 332 votes.
The Verkhovna Rada scrutinized the Bill "On Amendments to several Laws of Ukraine" (re Disclosure of Acts adopted by the Judicial Bodies) that was presented by Andrii Portnov, the people´s Deputy of Ukraine. The Bill introduces amendments to the Laws "On the High Council of Justice of Ukraine" and "On Judicial System of Ukraine", which aim at provision of public access to the most important decisions of the judicial bodies. The Bill envisages disclosure of acts of the Presidium and Plenum of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, congress of judges and the Council of Judges of Ukraine within five days since their adoption under the procedure, established by the Council of Judges. Adoption of the Bill will facilitate development of judicial system in Ukraine that will protect rights and liberties of Ukrainian citizens.
The People´s Deputies upheld the Bill and adopted it as a basis by 289 votes.
The Bill on Amendments to certain Legislative Acts (re Establishment of Social Safeguards for Foster Parents) was presented by Roman Tkach, the People´s Deputy of Ukraine. he explained that the Bill introduces amendments to Article 1861 of the Labour Laws Code of Ukraine, and Articles 18, 19 and 20 of the Law "On Leaves". The said amendments extend the legally established social and labour safeguards for the employees who bring up children without mothers onto the foster parents who adopted orphans or children deprived of parental care. Moreover, the Bill envisages extra leaves similar to those granted to the employees with children.
The Chairman of the Committee on Social Policy and Labour Svitlana Shmeliova announced the Committee decision to recommend the Verkhovna Rada adoption of the Bill as a basis.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the Bill as a basis and in its entirety by 347 votes.
The Bill on Amendments to certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine (re Promotion of Investment and Innovation Activity) was presented by Vladyslav Lukianov, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Finance and Banking Activity. According to his words, the Bill introduces investment and innovation tax credit, and establishes the rates of income tax in the amount of 20 per cent, provided the income is invested into the renovation of fixed assets of 2 and 3 groups (except of motor cars) and objects of non-material assets in the form of titles to industrial property, provided they are used in economic activity for not less than three years. The Bill creates certain conditions for promotion of investment and innovation activity of the subjects of entrepreneurship. Inter alia, the Bill envisages a special privilege in the form of investment and innovation tax credit.
Relevant amendments will be introduced to the following Laws: "On Taxation of Income of Enterprises", and "On Settlement of Taxpayers´ Obligations to Budgets and State Purpose Funds".
In the result of the scrutiny, the Bill was adopted as a basis by 229 votes.
Volodymyr Lytvyn, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine before the scrutiny of certain number of the Bill regarding the improvement of anti-corruption legislation, briefed on the proposition to adopt one Bill suspend the coming into force of the relevant Law thus the profile Committee scrutinize the rest of the Bill and elaborate one harmonized Bill.
The Bill on Amendments to certain Laws of Ukraine regarding the Corruption Fighting and Prevention (Reg. No6159) was included into the agenda.
O. Novikov, the People´s Deputy of Ukraine presented the Bill. The legislative act suspends coming into force the Laws "On basic Principles of the Corruption Prevention", "On Liability of the legal entities for the committed corruption infringements", Code of Ukraine on Administrative Infringements and Criminal Code of Ukraine from 1 April 2010 until 1 January 2011.
In the result of the scrutiny, the People´s Deputies upheld the Bill on Amendments to certain Laws of Ukraine regarding the Corruption Fighting and Prevention (Reg. No6159) as a basis and in its entirety by 236 votes.
In the end of the morning sitting, the People´s Deputies returned to the Bill on Amendments to certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine regarding the Corruption Fighting and Prevention (Reg. No6130), included it into the agenda and adopted as a Basis.
Oleksandr Lavrynovych, the First Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adjourned the plenary meeting.
Next plenary meeting will be held on Thursday, 11 March.