At the meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on May 2, 2023, parliamentarians adopted in the second reading and as a whole the bill “On service in local government”. 263 People’s Deputies of Ukraine voted for the relevant draft law.
The approved document improves the service conditions and legal status of employees of local government. In addition, the law regulates the specifics of the service of elected officials of local government and the specifics of the labor relations of persons in the patronage service in the local government.
“Today, the state creates opportunities for the service in local government to be efficient and transparent. I am convinced that the significant powers that the communities have received will be able to be implemented by professional, motivated and results-oriented officials. Adoption of the draft Law is not only a necessity for building a legal democratic state, but also an important component of institutional adaptation to the EU and a step in fulfilling Ukraine’s obligations under the Association Agreement. The possibility to adopt the document in the final version and take into account the position of local government is another result achieved on the platform of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine” – says Oleksiy Kuleba, Executive Secretary of the Presidium of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine.
The new law introduces a distinction between the positions of local government employees and elected officials. The principle of political impartiality is introduced. There are legal grounds for creating the institute of the head of service in the local government.
In addition, regulated transfer to and from the civil service without competition. The transparency mechanisms of selection for positions have been improved, and the activity and career growth of employees will be based on KPI.
One of the expected innovations is also a new system of remuneration for employees and absolute transparency in calculation and citizens’ access to information about bonuses.
The developed and adopted document takes into account the absolute majority of the recommendations of the Council of Europe and lays not only new foundations for service in the local community, but also complies with European principles regarding these issues.
