On May 24, 2022, the Council of Ministers adopted a draft amendment to the Act on Assistance to Ukrainian Citizens in the Event of Armed Conflict in the Territory of Ukraine. On Thursday, May 26, the first reading of the bill took place in the Sejm, and it was referred to committee. Among the proposed changes to the regulations, the key ones appear to be those concerning the rules for the employment of Ukrainian citizens. The proposed changes are intended to ensure an adequate standard of protection for citizens in connection with their work. When notifying the employment office of an employee's employment, the entity entrusting work to a Ukrainian citizen will be required to specify the employee's working hours and remuneration. This will be done using a special form. Furthermore, these changes will require employers to entrust the employee with no less work than they declared in the notification. The proposed changes are controversial because no consultations were held on the matter. They could have significant consequences, as if irregularities are detected, such as excessively long or short working hours, the entrusting entity could face severe penalties. According to the special law, employers have 14 days to notify the Employment Office of the employment of a Ukrainian citizen. Failure to notify the Employment Office of the employment is considered illegal, which may result in a fine for the employer or even a ban on hiring foreigners. The above-mentioned proposed changes are not the only ones included in the proposed amendment, but they are the ones that may have the greatest consequences and be crucial for the employment of Ukrainian citizens.

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