New Labor Code: What Will Change for Millions of Ukrainians.

The text of the draft of the new Labor Code has been published on the website of the Verkhovna Rada, which has faced criticism from trade unions. The current labor legislation does not satisfy employers.

The current Labor Code was registered in 1971 and has undergone 95 revisions since then. According to Andriy Zablovskyi, the head of the secretariat of the Council of Entrepreneurs under the Cabinet of Ministers, foreign investors consider the current code to be 'wild', hence they are reluctant to come to Ukraine.

Main Changes in the Labor Code:

• A new concept of 'labor relations' is proposed, introducing seven different types of contracts.
• Basic social guarantees and rights for pregnant women and women on maternity leave are preserved.
• Employers are given the opportunity to dismiss an employee at the employer's discretion.
• The amount of compensation for work on weekends and public holidays is reduced.
• Mediation in labor relations is introduced, and a State Labor Inspection is created.

Types of Labor Agreements

Trade unions have called the new bill 'the Code of Slavery' due to violations of basic norms, including the eight-hour workday. International and European confederations of trade unions have already appealed to the President to block this project.

It is also proposed to dismiss employees on their own initiative and without clear grounds but with mandatory compensation. The project also introduces changes regarding vacations and wage payments.

The natural style of the news conveys the main issues of the new Labor Code of Ukraine. The changes proposed in the draft bill provoke mixed reactions, particularly serious criticism from trade unions, which consider them a violation of basic labor rights and social guarantees. The reaction of the public and experts to this bill is quite tense, as it may impact working conditions and social protection for employees in Ukraine.