Not only the unemployed: which Ukrainians will be involved in socially useful work?

During martial law, all non-disabled citizens of Ukraine can be involved in socially beneficial work, regardless of their permanent place of residence, profession, or employment. The main condition is the ability to do physical labor. Representatives of the State Labor Service reminded them of this.

Socially beneficial work is implemented in communities that need additional labor. Both the unemployed and internally displaced persons, students, and employees can participate in the involvement if their enterprises do not perform mobilization tasks or are not part of civil defense formations.

The scope of tasks in such work depends on the needs of each specific region. Usually, this includes supporting the Armed Forces, assisting the victims, and restoring infrastructure. Individuals may be offered work on clearing rubble after shelling, repairing residential buildings, unloading humanitarian aid, harvesting firewood, and assisting internally displaced persons. Other tasks include strengthening dams, cleaning roads, cleaning areas, arranging shelters in educational institutions, and eliminating natural garbage dumps.

Local authorities organize community service. They assess the needs for assistance, form lists of people ready to participate, and monitor the implementation of assigned tasks.

Regarding remuneration, it cannot be lower than the minimum wage, which is currently 8,000 hryvnias, excluding taxes. If the community can, it can also finance these works from the local budget, which in some cases allows it to increase employees’ actual income.

Experts note that participation in community service allows Ukrainians to earn at least some income during the war and, at the same time, helps communities restore critical infrastructure, such as roads, schools, and hospitals, more quickly.