“The “servants of the people” are preparing the curtailment of rights and the zeroing of social guarantees in the first weeks of the new year”: Mykhailo Volynets
In modern Ukrainian society, the issue of social protection is gaining more and more importance. Citizens expect guarantees of social support from the state, especially in conditions of war and economic instability. Against the background of these challenges, the government’s initiatives aimed at revising social guarantees cause significant public resonance. Ukrainian trade unionist and politician. People’s Deputy of Ukraine, head of the Independent Trade Union of Mineworkers of Ukraine, head of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine Mykhailo Volynets expressed serious concern about the legislative changes that are being prepared for adoption in the first weeks of the new year. He emphasizes that these initiatives can have a devastating impact on the rights of people with disabilities, workers and employees.
Mykhailo Volynets on his Facebook page wrote about two scandalous bills that are actively being promoted: #12209 and #12034. As Volynets notes, they aim to limit social protection and basic rights of citizens.
According to the people’s deputy, draft law No. 12209, submitted under the guise of reforming the medical and social expert commission (MSEK), actually does not relate to this topic. If adopted, 19 existing laws regulating the rights of people with disabilities will be amended. The most pressing points are the abolition of the concept of “monthly insurance payment” (regression) and the introduction of a choice between receiving a regression or a disability pension. This can significantly limit financial support for people who are already vulnerable. Volynets notes that such changes are being prepared hastily, without proper discussion with trade unions, employers and representatives of people with disabilities.
Volynets also believes that draft law No. 12034 provides for a significant limitation of the right to strikes, effectively depriving workers of the opportunity to defend their rights in conditions of social conflict. Volynets emphasizes that this document creates conditions for the dictates of employers, completely ignoring the principles of social dialogue necessary for the European integration of Ukraine.
“In the turbo regime, in a hurry, jumping over the opinions of trade unions and employers, people with disabilities themselves, grandiose changes are being pushed to 19 current laws that protect the right of people with special needs to guaranteed social protection. In particular, the concept of “monthly insurance payment” (regression) is being removed. and the law on pension insurance adds a rule that a person who has the right to receive monthly insurance payments (regression) and disability pension, must choose which of the payments she will receive.
I cannot but point out that all this is being done by the Ministry of Anti-Social Policy against the background of the war and the increased level of injuries, threats at work and even at home.
On the other hand, again contrary to its official mission, the Mediation and Conciliation Service helps in the development and lobbying of the draft law on collective labor disputes.
The document plans to take away people’s right to protest in the absence of social dialogue in Ukraine, in the conditions of the aggressive imposition of the dictatorship of employers. Far from European integration – in the best traditions of the oppressors of wage laborers.
Decision-making centers communicate a lot about the need to return our refugees and labor migrants to Ukraine. But what attracts both those who left and those who stayed to live and work in Ukraine?
An increase in taxes and tariffs, a deterioration in the rights of workers, a significant reduction in social programs and a ban on expressing dissent through protests?
This kind of motivation for people and an idea of the European level of rights protection… There will be more.” – noted Mykhailo Volynets.
Therefore, the fact that these legislative initiatives are being implemented at a difficult time for the country, when the war significantly increases the level of injuries and social challenges, is of particular concern to the People’s Deputy. The Ministry of Social Policy, which, according to its mission, should be the guarantor of the protection of citizens, instead initiates reforms that narrow social guarantees.
Against the background of these initiatives, the government is actively discussing the return of refugees and labor migrants to Ukraine. However, as Volynets notes, the actions of the authorities do not contribute to the creation of conditions that could motivate people to stay in the country or return. Increases in taxes and tariffs, cuts in social programs and restrictions on the right to protest create an oppressive atmosphere for those who work and live in Ukraine.
