The current law on service in local self-government bodies is very outdated in terms of financial remuneration to employees, pension guarantees and service at all. As a result, professionals leave the work in the municipalities and go to the private sector. Actions of the Government have somewhat changed this situation for the better, but fundamental changes are possible only with the adoption of a new law by the Verkhovna Rada, announced Oleksandr Slobozhan, executive director of the Association of Ukrainian Cities in the “Modern Hromada” programme of the Ukrainian Radio.

He reminded that the draft law No 8369, intended to increase the prestige of service in local self-government bodies, is ready to be voted in the Verkhovna Rada.

“I am grateful to the Government of Volodymyr Groysman, that has twice raised the salaries of local self-government employees in the recent years, introducing changes to the relevant resolution. But they mostly concerned the leading positions. We would also like the lowest category specialists to have decent salaries so that young people have incentives to develop in the hromada rather than go into private structures. And these should be salaries, not bonuses and surpluses, as it is now,” the expert noted.

According to him, the draft law No 8369 offers a new system. “The head of the hromada becomes a certain city manager, who defines recruitment policy so that professionals, receiving proper salaries, work there,” said Oleksandr Slobozhan.

As informed before, on 6 June 2018, the Parliamentary Committee recommended that the Verkhovna Rada adopt in the first reading the draft law on amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Service in Local Self-Government Bodies” No 8369 (new version of the current law).

The AUDIO record of the programme is available HERE

The “Modern Hromada” programme is issued on the Ukrainian radio with the support of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme every Wednesday at 19:30.