The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine held a public discussion on reforming the remuneration system in a round-table format. The discussion was attended by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, while the meeting was initiated by the Chairwoman of the Committee on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans' Rights, Halina Tretiakova. The round table was attended by MPs, representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Office of the President, as well as Ukrainian and international experts.
Participants discussed key approaches to reform, balancing the interests of employees and employers, increasing transparency and fairness in remuneration for work, as well as practical steps to improve current legislation.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk stressed that such public expert discussions should become standard practice in the work of Parliament. Open dialogue with the professional community is a necessary prerequisite for quality lawmaking, according to him. «Openness, professionalism and dialogue are not the future, but the current practice of the Verkhovna Rada, which we are developing and strengthening. Together, we are forming a Parliament that works transparently, competently and in partnership with society,» he stressed. Based on the results of the dialogue, it is planned to submit a corresponding draft law, taking into account the proposals made by the participants.
Halyna Tretiakova noted that the current Law on Remuneration, which has been in force since 1995, is outdated and does not correspond to modern economic realities. «We are proposing a comprehensive reform that, for the first time, regulates the concept of public service, updates guarantees for employees and introduces European approaches to the minimum wage. This is a reform that affects everyone, and it must be adopted after open professional discussion with all interested parties,» Halyna Tretiakova emphasised.
Particular attention was paid to reforming labour guarantees, new approaches to setting the minimum wage, transparency and accountability of public authorities, and improving the grading system in the public sector.
Participants agreed that the legislative initiative needs to be refined with the involvement of trade unions, employers, government bodies and experts. The round table allowed the key priorities of the reform to be identified and the need for further tripartite dialogue to create a transparent, fair and modern remuneration system.