MPs are concerned about the psyche of working Ukrainians: new rules are being prepared for business

MPs are planning to establish a National Commission on Mental Health in Ukraine. The new body will be responsible for implementing the state policy in the field of mental health. In addition, businesses will be required to create a mental health service for employees.

The new National Council is to be created under draft law No. 12030, which was registered in the Verkhovna Rada on September 13. The draft law states that it will be a permanent collegial body with the legal status of an institution that is directly managed by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The description of the draft law specifies the main powers of the new commission: coordination and supervision of the implementation of state policy in the field of mental health care. It will be composed of representatives of ministries and self-regulatory organizations – they will ensure interaction between various executive authorities, professional associations, and public organizations.

It is proposed that the members and staff of the National Commission should not be civil servants, but should be funded from the state budget and other sources not prohibited by law, including international technical assistance. However, the financial and economic justification does not contain calculations of how much budgetary funds will be needed to create a new budgetary institution.

The Labor Code also proposes to establish that the employer shall establish a mental health service. Each employer must develop and approve a policy or plan for the protection and promotion of mental health in the workplace.

Accordingly, the Labor Protection Law stipulates that an employer with 50 or more employees shall establish a mental health service. At an enterprise with fewer than 50 employees, the functions of the mental health service may be performed on a part-time basis by persons with appropriate training. At an enterprise with fewer than 20 employees, third-party specialists with appropriate training may be engaged on a contractual basis to perform the functions of the mental health service. The functions and powers of mental health care and its standard regulations are approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote about another bill passed by MPs that allows employers of strategic enterprises to dismiss employees for non-compliance with the rules of conduct, in particular for concealing ties with persons in the occupied territories. This law also allows for internal audits and termination of employment contracts in case of violation of the established rules.

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