7 proposals to optimize the work conditions for the business

10/ 04/ 2020

This week, the Government amended the Resolution № 211 on preventing the spread of COVID-19 in Ukraine. Thus, the CMU clarified some provisions suggested by the business among which the following three were particularly important. First, the unclear requirement for mandatory direct contracts with communications providers to sell means of communications during the quarantine was excluded. At the same time, the Resolution allowed the self-isolation of persons over 60 years old, who work for companies, institutions, and organizations, in particular in the field of food production and agriculture. Also, the list of businesses allowed to operate was extended, and now include the collection points of recyclable materials and courier services that provide products and customer care. The European Business Association thanks the CMU for taking into account the proposals of the business community and including them in certain formulations. At the same time, the community notes that the current version of the Resolution № 211 still needs some clarification in order to avoid misinterpretation and possible abuse. Therefore, the business suggests the following 7 proposals: - Allow the sales of electrical appliances that are designed to clean and disinfect the premises and those for personal hygiene. - Enable the sales of household goods (wipes, toothpaste, antibacterial soap, etc.) that are within the product range of grocery and personal care stores. - Specify the list of employees over 60 years old who are not subjected to self-isolation and add them to the list of people who work in retail (grocery and personal care stores) and service companies for retailers (security, cleaning, warehouses, etc.). - Exclude the requirement obliging companies that work face-to-face with customers (supermarkets, banks, gas stations, etc.) to provide each visitor with personal protective equipment. - Include a norm that will allow employers to equate the self-isolation regime (assigned by a family/attending doctor) to the temporary disability with a respective medical certificate and payment of compensation from the Social Insurance Fund. At the same time, in cases where the self-isolated person continues to work and perform the work duties in agreement with the employer, such an employee should be paid for the work in accordance with the terms of the respective employment contract. - Also, an important category of citizens, such as pregnant women, has been ignored. According to the business, they also need maximum self-isolation or hospitalization (for example, to make self-isolation equal to the sick-leave). Therefore, it is important to provide proper measures for this social category to avoid the risks. - To simplify the procedure of coordinating the routes of vehicles, transporting employees allowed to work, with the National Police. Thus, according to the business, this procedure should be declarative, because the operation of companies is already allowed. Therefore, the route should be informed to the National Police, but it shall not need Police approval. In the near future, the European Business Association will share additional proposals with the Government and hopefully, they will be discussed and taken into account in the next meeting.

First, the unclear requirement for mandatory direct contracts with communications providers to sell means of communications during the quarantine was excluded.

At the same time, the Resolution allowed the self-isolation of persons over 60 years old, who work for companies, institutions, and organizations, in particular in the field of food production and agriculture.

Also, the list of businesses allowed to operate was extended, and now include the collection points of recyclable materials and courier services that provide products and customer care.

The European Business Association thanks the CMU for taking into account the proposals of the business community and including them in certain formulations. At the same time, the community notes that the current version of the Resolution № 211 still needs some clarification in order to avoid misinterpretation and possible abuse. Therefore, the business suggests the following 7 proposals:

– Allow the sales of electrical appliances that are designed to clean and disinfect the premises and those for personal hygiene.

– Enable the sales of household goods (wipes, toothpaste, antibacterial soap, etc.) that are within the product range of grocery and personal care stores.

– Specify the list of employees over 60 years old who are not subjected to self-isolation and add them to the list of people who work in retail (grocery and personal care stores) and service companies for retailers (security, cleaning, warehouses, etc.).

– Exclude the requirement obliging companies that work face-to-face with customers (supermarkets, banks, gas stations, etc.) to provide each visitor with personal protective equipment.

– Include a norm that will allow employers to equate the self-isolation regime (assigned by a family/attending doctor) to the temporary disability with a respective medical certificate and payment of compensation from the Social Insurance Fund. At the same time, in cases where the self-isolated person continues to work and perform the work duties in agreement with the employer, such an employee should be paid for the work in accordance with the terms of the respective employment contract.

– Also, an important category of citizens, such as pregnant women, has been ignored. According to the business, they also need maximum self-isolation or hospitalization (for example, to make self-isolation equal to the sick-leave). Therefore, it is important to provide proper measures for this social category to avoid the risks.

– To simplify the procedure of coordinating the routes of vehicles, transporting employees allowed to work, with the National Police. Thus, according to the business, this procedure should be declarative, because the operation of companies is already allowed. Therefore, the route should be informed to the National Police, but it shall not need Police approval.

In the near future, the European Business Association will share additional proposals with the Government and hopefully, they will be discussed and taken into account in the next meeting.