Law on external labour migration adopted

On 5 November 2015 the Verkhovna Rada adopted the Law “On external labour migration”, which specifies the legal and organisational grounds of state regulation of external labour migration and social security of labour migrants and members of their families.

Pursuant to the Law the rights of labour migrants, in particular, on proper labour conditions, bonuses, recreation and social protection, are regulated by the receiving state and international agreements ratified by Ukraine.

Labour migrants and their family members can take part in the mandatory social insurance system on a voluntary basis, and their pensions are to be paid in line with international agreements.

The Law outlines the rights of labour migrants and their family members to education, as well as the right to satisfy their national, cultural, educational, spiritual, and language rights.

The Law applies to the self-employed migrants or those who work under the contract or provide paid services. However, the Law does not apply to diplomats, students and refugees.

The Law becomes effective on 1 January 2016.