A partner info session was held in the Regional Office of U-LEAD with Europe on May 16 featuring experts from the Zaporizhzhia Office of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Employment Centre.
“Since the local council is the place where locals and IDPs go to solve all their issues, including employment, council officials should have the comprehensive information available in order to be able to refer people to competent services,” said Anastasia Pavliuk, Adviser on Municipal Management and Recovery at the Regional Office of U-LEAD in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Speakers outlined the situation on the job market in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Among other things, they pointed out that since the beginning of 2024, 6,611 persons have applied to the employment service, and 4,650 persons were registered as of mid-May. The job database includes more than 1,500 vacancies.
Since the beginning of the year, more than 200 employers have taken advantage of various business and entrepreneurship support programmes. Furthermore, 11 entrepreneurs created special workplaces for 11 persons with disabilities of Groups 1 and 2.
According to the speakers, a recruiting department was created to communicate with employers and job seekers. These are officials of the Employment Service acting as recruitment managers for businesses that apply to them. This is especially useful for those entities that cannot afford to have this position.
The info session also focused on the possibility of training or changing careers at the expense of the Employment Service. For unemployed persons registered with the Service, vocational training can be based on a certificate. The second type of training requires a voucher. The third type is a referral to vocational education and training centres of the State Employment Service for veterans or persons with war-related disabilities. For instance, they can study to master 95 in-demand jobs or undergo advanced training in 365 areas.
With the voucher, you can study for free in educational institutions or with an employer in 124 professions and jobs in IT, construction, transportation, education, healthcare, agriculture, social services, etc. The voucher value is up to UAH 30,280. If the training costs more, either the employer or the student must cover the difference. The voucher must be activated within 90 days from the date of receipt.
The vouchers are available to persons aged over 45 who have completed at least a vocational education and training and have 15 years of work experience. The vouchers are also offered to veterans of the war and the Anti-Terrorist Operation, participants in hostilities, and those who have been disabled as a result of hostilities, regardless of their age or work experience. IDPS are entitled to the vouchers provided there is a lack of suitable employment options for them.
The participants learned about support programmes for entrepreneurs. These cover compensating the costs of employers for the employment of internally displaced persons (Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 696), compensation for wage costs for the employment of IDPs under martial law (Resolution of the CMU No. 331), providing assistance to employers for partial unemployment due to suspensions of production (Resolution of the CMU No. 702), compensation for the employment of registered unemployed persons (Resolution of the CMU No. 124), compensation for the employment of registered unemployed persons for new jobs (Resolution of the CMU No. 338), compensation to employers for the actual costs of arranging workplaces for employed persons with disabilities (Resolution of the CMU No. 893).
As for the last one, from 1 January 2024, the compensation limit for arranging a workplace for an employed person with a disability has increased to UAH 106,500 for persons with a disability of Group 1 and to UAH 71,000 for persons with a disability of Group 2. The funds can be used to purchase special equipment and install inclusive furniture, doors, ramps, etc. to ensure comfortable working conditions.
Speakers walked the participants through all the steps for each resolution and reaffirmed the effectiveness of the programmes. Local self-government bodies play a key role in informing businesses operating in their municipalities about these opportunities.
In addition, the info reminded the participants about micro-grant programmes for creating your own business and grants to veterans and their spouses.
