The Cabinet of Ministers simplifies booking of carriers due to staff shortages
31 July 2024 12:11
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has simplified the procedure for obtaining “armour” for transport workers. This was announced by Deputy Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Serhiy Derkach, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Derkach reminded how the reservation procedure for employees of transport companies works:
- a company that meets the criteria submits a package of documents to the Ministry;
- receives the status of a critical one;
- has the opportunity to book employees in Diia.
According to the new rules, in order for a company to be recognised as critical, it must meet two out of seven criteria, instead of three as it was before.
Amendments to Resolution 76 of the Cabinet of Ministers have made it easier for businesses to submit a package of documents. For example, it is necessary to have the appropriate licence and not to have tax arrears.
The government has also expanded the list of companies that can apply for critical infrastructure status. In particular, this list includes carriers engaged in irregular transportation and bus stations .
Firms that started their operations not only in 2022 but also in 2023 and 2024 can also apply.
In addition, the Cabinet of Ministers cancelled the rule that required confirmation of the formalisation of labour relations with employees 180 days before the submission of documents.
“We understand that companies are hiring new employees in the face of staff shortages, so waiting 180 days is unjustified,” Derkach said.
He emphasised that the changes will come into force after the act is registered by the Ministry of Justice.
“In practice, this means that it is possible to submit packages of documents to the Ministry with these changes only after the updated order comes into force,” he said.
However, these changes do not apply to carriers operating as individual entrepreneurs. To resolve this situation, the law needs to be amended to allow not only enterprises, institutions and organisations to book flights, but also individual entrepreneurs.
The Deputy Minister added that the Ministry of Infrastructure has recognised about 170 carriers as critical, and about 80 more will soon receive this status. Over the past year and a half, the Ministry of Infrastructure has received about 500 applications from carriers for criticality recognition.
Criteria for companies that are critical to the economy
Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 76 sets out the criteria for recognising an enterprise as critical to the functioning of the economy and ensuring the livelihoods of the population during a special period:
- the total amount of taxes paid exceeds the equivalent of EUR 1.5 million;
- the amount of foreign currency revenues exceeds the equivalent of EUR 32 million;
- the company is of strategic importance for the economy and security of the state according to the list;
- the enterprise is important for a sector of the national economy or for meeting the needs of the territorial community;
- no arrears in the payment of a single contribution to the obligatory state social insurance;
- the average salary of insured employees at the enterprise for the last calendar quarter is not less than the average salary in the region for the fourth quarter of 2021;
- the company is a resident of Diia City.
An enterprise is recognised as critical if it meets at least two criteria. Such enterprises can book 50% of their employees, or more “in case of a reasonable need”.
The government has also approved a list of NGOs that have received 100% reservation from mobilisation.
