28 January 2008, 09:05
The Bill (Reg. No.1323) proposes the introduction of a new Honorary title, 'Ukraine's Honoured
Local Government Employee´.
Committee members noted that the Bill does not fully comply with the principles laid down in Part 2 of Clause 10 of the Law, stating that Honorary titles of Ukraine are granted to individuals working in the relevant area of economic or socio-cultural sectors. Whereas Local Government, as Committee members stressed, does not belong to the economic or socio-cultural sectors. This is a specific level of the local organisation of territorial power, whose mission is to provide effective governance in the relevant areas of economic and socio-cultural life, on the principles of relative autonomy.
To their way of thinking, Local Government officials and Municipal employees could therefore, in this context, be granted almost all, with some exclusions, the Honorary titles of Ukraine as listed in Clause 10 of the current Law. Relevant Edicts of The President of Ukraine on the Decoration of Ukrainian citizens on the eve of Local Self-Government Day, reflect this approach.
Committee members also drew attention to the fact that Parliament earlier had adopted a Law introducing the Honorary title 'Honoured Local Government Worker' , which has not been signed by The President of Ukraine for the reasons listed above.
Nevertheless, the majority of the Committee agreed that this Bill is greatly required, as 300,000 persons work in this sector.
The People's Deputies upheld the proposal of Olexander Omelchenko, Committee Chairman, to return to the consideration of this Bill in February/March 2008, prior to receiving opinions from the relevant agencies.
The Sponsor of this Bill, People's Deputy V. Tykhonov, believes that the introduction of an Honorary title 'Ukraine's Honoured Local Government Employee', will contribute to raising the status and prestige of work in Local Governments, and acknowledgment of the role of Local Self-government in the building of a Democratic state.