Economy Ministry says who could be drafted into Army of Restoration
Українців можуть призвати до виконання суспільно-корисних робіт (Photo:facebook.com/Dobrobat)
The Ukrainian government is activating a mechanism for attracting the unemployed to the Army of Restoration of Ukraine for participation in socially useful work, the country’s economy minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, said on Oct. 25.
“A rather high level of unemployment is expected in the country due to the war – about 30% at the end of the year, and this is a serious challenge for the state,” she said.
“Therefore, the government has drawn up and proposed a mechanism by which the temporarily unemployed can be involved in socially useful work that is needed in the regions.
“Today we have two armies – one is defending the country at the front, the other one is working. People who have been left without work for various reasons will be able to join the country’s Army of Restoration, and the state will pay for their work at the level of the minimum wage, which will be UAH 6,700 ($183) (per month) from October.”
As of today, socially useful works have already been implemented in Sumy (almost 400 unemployed) and Chernihiv (78 unemployed) oblasts.
What jobs can the unemployed be involved in?
The types of jobs include:
- those that have a defensive nature;
- work to eliminate the consequences of emergency situations of a man-made, natural and military nature;
- work aimed at meeting the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, other military formations and civil defense forces;
- work aimed at ensuring the general needs of the functioning of the economy and the life of the population.
For example:
- setting up and strengthening military block posts, felling trees to form trenches;
- collecting firewood for the military and the population;
- removal of rubble and repairing residential buildings and other premises damaged as a result of hostilities;
- strengthening dams;
- clearing highways of debris;
- unloading humanitarian aid;
- setting up basements in high-rise buildings and schools as air raid shelters;
- repair and restoration works of premises in the social sphere;
- providing assistance to internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
Who should organize such works
The organizer should be the military command together with the regional military administration independently or with the involvement of executive authorities.
Who can be called up for socially useful works
It is planned that all able-bodied persons will be involved, in particular, registered unemployed and internally displaced persons who are in good health. The unemployed will receive payment for their work of not less than the minimum wage (UAH 6,700), which in most cases is higher than unemployment benefits. Fixed-term labor contracts will be concluded with the participants of such works in accordance with the Labor Code.
The initiative of the Ministry of Economy is similar to targeted mobilization. Persons called up as part of this stage of mobilization do not take part in hostilities and work in territories previously worked on by special services (after mine clearance, emergency rescue work, etc.).
On March 15, 2022, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, passed bill No. 7144, which provides for the possibility of targeted mobilization in the recovery period after the end of hostilities to eliminate their consequences.
The type, scope, order, and term of the mobilization will be determined by the president of Ukraine in the decision on its implementation. That is, targeted mobilization can take place after the president adopts a corresponding decision and makes his official statement.
Employed persons can also be called up for targeted mobilization. In this case, their place of work, position and average salary must be retained, regardless of whether they work in a state or private company.
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