A Center for Legal Assistance to the Unemployed operates in Chernihiv

On April 3, 2012, the Expert Club “Clean Politics” hosted a presentation of the Center for Free Legal Aid to the Unemployed in Chernihiv, which operates on the basis of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights.

As the head of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights, Oleksiy Tarasov, noted during the presentation: “Unemployment and violation of labor rights are among the most acute problems, both in Ukraine and in the Chernihiv region in particular. This is confirmed by numerous appeals from citizens to the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights.”

“Human rights activists note the growth of poverty and social inequality in the country in recent times. In this situation, our citizens remain completely defenseless in the event of violations of their rights, primarily socio-economic and labor. Unfortunately, most of our citizens cannot afford “paid” protection of their rights at the moment. That is why the project “Access to Justice and Legal Awareness in Ukraine “Lawful Country” is operating in Ukraine, which aims to unite the efforts of public organizations that provide free legal assistance, including in the field of labor relations,” the human rights activist emphasized.

Lawyer of the Center for Legal Assistance to the Unemployed Nataliya Piddubna noted that, unfortunately, our citizens, especially those who have become unemployed, do not know their basic rights in relations with their employer. The issues of untimely payment of wages, illegal dismissal from work, manifestations of discrimination by employers, and abuse by private employment agencies are acute. Therefore, the main goal of the Center for Legal Aid for the Unemployed is to facilitate access to justice, as well as prevent and eliminate violations of labor rights of citizens and create equal conditions for men and women in the field of labor relations.

Director of the Chernihiv City Employment Center Oleksandr Zevchenko welcomed the opening of the Center for Legal Aid for the Unemployed. He noted that currently more than 4,000 unemployed people are registered with the city employment center and many of them have various legal issues. The Employment Center does not have the appropriate resources to provide full legal assistance to the unemployed. Therefore, the activities of the Center for Legal Aid will help the unemployed who will contact the Chernihiv City Employment Center.

The main tasks of the Center for Legal Aid for the Unemployed:

• providing free legal assistance to citizens in order to restore violated rights in the field of labor relations and help in resolving labor conflicts with employers;

• increasing the legal knowledge of employed and unemployed citizens by publishing and distributing information materials containing information on legal methods for resolving the most typical violations by employers;

• conducting an information campaign and broad explanatory work with the target group about the work and services of the Center for Legal Assistance to the Unemployed and the main problems with which citizens contact the Center;

• explanatory and educational activities among employers in order to comply with labor rights and prevent violations of labor legislation, in particular regarding issues of gender equality and combating discrimination in the workplace. The Center for Free Legal Assistance to the Unemployed in Chernihiv is open at: Chernihiv, Gorkogo St. 57 from 11:00 to 16:00. Appointments can be made by phone: (0462) 612-532.

The program is implemented within the framework of the project “Access to Justice and Legal Awareness in Ukraine “Lawful Country”, implemented by Management Systems International (MSI) with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).