On February 8, VRU’s Committee on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans’ Rights organized public hearings “The tools of public support for veterans – participants in hostilities in the post-war period”. More than 100 participants took part in the hearing, among them there were MPs, central authorities, NGOs, scientific institutions, mass media. The event was held with the USAID RADA: Next Generation Program's support.
The Committee’s Chairman Halyna Tretiakova stressed on the necessity to work out the strategy in order to ensure the integration of Ukrainian Defenders into a peaceful life: "Currently, we are thinking on creation a governmental structure composed around of 10,000 people in different regions of Ukraine that will be financed by the state budget. The main task of such a service or agency will be the support the demobilized persons in any issues they may occur after our victory."
During the hearings, the Committee discussed the models of war veterans’ integration into the economic and active life in order to ensure their economic independence, proper rest and rehabilitation after demobilization. Representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine indicated that they have worked out and continue to expand the list of possible employment options for Ukrainian Defenders according to the preferences of demobilized persons.
According to the central authorities’ data, after the victory over the Russian aggressor, the number of war veterans in Ukraine will exceed 2 million citizens. Part of the combatants will return to their workplaces, being reserved for them until the end of the martial law, another part will continue their service in the spheres of national security and state defense.
At the same time, the participants of the hearings agreed on the necessity of current military personnel participation in the process of state post-war reconstruction. In particular, there is a high demand of employment of demobilized Ukrainians in state authorities and local self-government bodies.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine predicts that 10% will be able to create undertakings and to employ other veterans. According to the Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine, the Government is working on providing the opportunity for Ukrainian Defenders to create their own undertakings, employing their fellows. Thus, a grant program is being created, which provides the possibility to get 1 million hryvnias for business development, under the condition of employment of 4 people, two of whom are combatants.
"Having a successful experience with the “Vlasna Srava” grant programs in 2022, we are finishing to approve few documents that will also work for veterans. They will provide the possibility for the hostilities’ participant to receive a grant for his own business in the amount of around 250 thousand hryvnias in the case of employment of one person. There will be also grants for the second spouse in the amount of around 500 thousand hryvnias for business development while the husband or wife is fighting. We decided to borrow this idea from the American experience. This is a good opportunity to prepare the family business for the Defender’s return," said Tetyana Berezhna.
The state will also support businesses that will employ citizens after their demobilization. The employment programs already foresee the compensation of a single social contribution to the employer for the employment of a war veteran. "The significant part of the successful work of hired employees from the participants in hostilities is their re-education," the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine notes.
The Director of Ptoukha Institute of Demography and Social Studies of NAS of Ukraine Ella Libanova, also believes that after demobilization, only a part of Ukrainian Defenders will return to their former work. "It will be caused due to the destruction of Ukraine's economy and the necessity of its reconstruction on the fundamentally different basis. Most likely, the significant part of the demobilized persons will be retrained for new professions," Ms. Libanova said.
The Committee in cooperation with the Government, scientists, public and other parties will continue to work on the adaptation of labor legislation to modern conditions and realities, in particular, regarding the employment of the population during the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.
The USAID RADA: Next Generation Program provides the support to parliamentary committees within the framework of the “Model Committee” project and, in particular, promotes the holding of public events. Such events facilitate to discuss in public socially important and significant issues and to involve citizens and other stakeholders in the decision-making process, which is one of the features of developed democracies that contributes to increasing the efficiency and trust in government decisions.