Ukraine is introducing compulsory labor: what will citizens do?

A significant event took place in Odessa – the acting head of the regional military administration, Nadezhda Zadorozhna, signed an order on labor service for citizens. This decision was the result of efforts aimed at involving local residents in socially useful work during the martial law period, such as eliminating the consequences of shelling, repairing shelters, loading humanitarian aid, and other important tasks.

The main attention will be paid to the creation of special brigades that will work in areas affected by enemy attacks. Citizens aged 18 to 65 are subject to labor service, including the unemployed, internally displaced persons, veterans and other categories of the population. The connection of working people is possible only if this does not interfere with their main work.

Local utility companies in cooperation with charitable organizations will coordinate the work. They will take responsibility for determining the number of people involved, drawing up work schedules, and organizing gathering places.

As for wages, they will be provided from various sources, including budgets of customers and charitable expenses. It is guaranteed that the unemployed will receive no less than the minimum wage, and the employed – in accordance with their average earnings.

Lawyer Oleksandr Ivanov noted that such labor obligation is provided for by law and has been applied in various regions of Ukraine since 2022. Previous decisions were made at the local level, but the Odessa order was somewhat delayed, perhaps due to the desire to avoid panic among the population.

The basic essence is that this order provides a legal basis for involving individuals in performing work if necessary, primarily on a voluntary basis. We hope that the situation will not reach the point of coercive measures. Thus, Odessa residents can consider this decision as a system for organizing assistance to the city in difficult times.