Bill on protection of labor migrants passes first reading in Ukraine's parliament

The relevant bill provides that only an employer should pay employment fees for Ukrainians who go to work abroad.

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A bill designed to safeguard labor migrants from Ukraine and fight employment-related fraud has passed its first reading in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament.

Relevant bill No. 2365 was backed by 248 MPs, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada's Committee on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans' Rights Halyna Tretiakova said at a Tuesday parliamentary meeting that labor migration from Ukraine is estimated at 4 million people, with up to 2.7 million people working abroad simultaneously.

According to her, these figures are larger since many people are abroad for temporary or seasonal work only part of the year. She said Ukraine was among top 10 countries of origin of international migrants.

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Tretiakova emphasized the relevant bill provides that only an employer should pay employment fees for Ukrainians who go to work abroad, therefore this will be a safeguard against intermediaries' fraudulent schemes.

The bill also suggests cancellation of licensing for services of intermediaries in employment abroad. It proposes that intermediaries should operate on a declarative basis, i.e. they should submit a declaration that they start providing services of intermediation in employment abroad, and should conclude an international business contract on intermediary services with a foreign business entity (a foreign employer). The declaration shall be submitted to a Ukrainian central executive agency that implements the state policy in the field of employment and labor migration.

In addition, the bill prohibits business entities that provide services of intermediation in employment abroad to charge fees, commissions and other remuneration from their clients. The bill also envisages administrative liability for violation of the legislation on the activities of business entities that provide services of intermediation in employment. A fine is set from UAH 17,000 (US$636) to UAH 50,000 (US$1,870).

As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine and Poland could conclude an agreement on seasonal workers to "settle urgent issues of the Ukrainian labor migrants' stay in Poland."

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