Trade unions insist on considering employees' positions in the new Labor Code - FPU head Byzov

Trade unions call for an open dialogue on the new version of the Labor Code of Ukraine and insist on taking into account the position of employees during its revision. This was stated by Serhiy Byzov, head of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine, writes UNN.

"Trade unions insist on an open and meaningful dialogue between the government, employers, and employees regarding the new version of the Labor Code of Ukraine. We agree that the modernization of labor legislation is objectively overdue, as the current legislation does not fully correspond to the socio-economic realities in the state. Ukraine needs modern, clear, and fair rules in the field of labor. At the same time, the new version of the Labor Code must be finalized within the framework of a full-fledged social dialogue and taking into account the position of employees - those whose rights and obligations it must guarantee, and to whom it must guarantee protection," Serhiy Byzov wrote on his Facebook page.

The head of the FPU emphasized that it is fundamental for trade unions to preserve their role as a key instrument for protecting workers' rights, as well as to prevent the weakening of the right to strike or the creation of pressure mechanisms by employers. Special attention, according to the head of the FPU, should be paid to a clear definition of the grounds for fixed-term employment contracts without the possibility of their arbitrary expansion.

The Federation of Trade Unions also advocates for the abolition of the three-month limitation for going to court in wage disputes, as it narrows the opportunities for workers to protect their rights.

"Separately, we demand a fair approach to remuneration - with the minimum wage tied to the living wage and at a level not lower than 50% of the average wage in the economy. This is not only about social justice and ensuring a decent standard of living, but also about implementing European integration requirements," Byzov wrote.

In addition, it is about the need to preserve social guarantees for vulnerable categories of employees, including vacations for harmful working conditions and other existing benefits, as well as establishing adequate notice periods for changes in essential working conditions.

According to Byzov, the National Tripartite Social and Economic Council can become an effective platform for developing agreed solutions, which allows ensuring a balance of interests between all parties to the social dialogue.

"It is through the mechanism of the NTSEC that the state can hear citizens, and citizens can exercise their right to represent their own interests. The voice of the employee must be heard. We have no right to allow the restriction of an employee's rights. Today, when the topic of the Labor Code has become a subject of public discussion, it is important to move to a professional, responsible and balanced discussion and joint work on the document, and not to deepen the conflict. Trade unions are ready for such work. Our approach is unchanged: modernization of labor legislation - yes, decisions without a proper balance of interests and without sufficient guarantees for employees - no," Byzov emphasized.

Recall

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the draft of the new Labor Code, which is intended to replace the 1971 Code of Labor Laws and launch labor market reform. According to Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, the document is one of the key steps for implementing the Population Employment Strategy until 2030.

The Code establishes clear signs of labor relations. The document defines 8 signs of labor relations. The Cabinet of Ministers believes that this will help reduce legal uncertainty and bring employment out of the shadows. Preliminary estimates for de-shadowing the labor market are 43 billion hryvnias per year.

The project also provides for an increase in the types of employment contracts from 6 to 9. The Code regulates modern forms of work: remote, home-based, unfixed working hours.

At the same time, the draft Labor Code was criticized by experts, in particular, due to the expansion of the grounds for dismissing an employee at the initiative of the employer. Also, the document does not take into account the norm of Directive (EU) 2022/2041, according to which the minimum wage should be at least half of the average. The project provides that the minimum wage is set as a percentage of the average monthly wage, and the percentage is determined by the Cabinet of Ministers. It also provides for the establishment of internal labor regulations without the participation of trade unions and an increase in the duration of the working day.