Cabinet endorses bill to regulate freelance work

Ukraine's Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade, and Agriculture says the Cabinet of Ministers at a meeting on February 24 passed a bill that would allow for the conclusion of an employment contract with non-fixed working hours, which, in particular, would regulate freelancers' work.

That is according to the ministry's statement published on the government's portal on February 24.

In particular, the draft law stipulates labor relations where it's impossible to determine in advance the types, volumes, and timeframe for performing a particular job. In particular, this refers to freelancers.

Read alsoUpdate on average salaries in Ukraine IT industryThe document introduces a new form of an employment contract that lays down non-fixed working hours. The parties to the contract may determine the needed time of an employee's involvement to perform a particular job, as well as the scope and the way of execution of such work. Remuneration shall be paid only for the actual working hours.

Also, an employee shall be granted the rights and guarantees provided by labor legislation, including regarding the proper mode of work, rest time, hiring and firing procedures, and wage payments.

Moreover, the bill provides for a guaranteed minimum monthly number of paid hours.

"In such cases, work is now registered mainly under civil law contracts, while persons performing such works are deprived of the rights and guarantees established by labor legislation," the ministry said.

The bill creates a "convenient mechanism for legalizing freelancers' work, which will strengthen their social and labor protection and preserve the employees' mobility," Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitalization, Ihor Diadiura said.