OREANDA-NEWS. May 19, 2009. A Ukrainian delegation composed of the head of the State Committee for Entrepreneurship and Regulatory Policy Olexandra Kuzhel, head of Board of the Pension Fund of Ukraine Olexii Zarudnyi and deputy head of the State Tax Administration Serhii Lekar has made a trip to Spain, Italy and Portugal considered as leaders at the amount of Ukrainian citizens working there.

As Olexandra Kuzhel said to a media conference at the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the official trip took place on commission of the Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko with a goal to study the problems of Ukrainian citizens living and working outside their homeland.

“The task was extremely hard as during three days we had to attend the three countries, meet with leaders of Ukrainian civic associations in these states and also with official representatives of these states,” Olexandra Kuzhel explained.

According to her, firstly in the history of Ukrainian state top-officials have come to the migrant workers with concrete explanations of legislation and with assistance. The trip gave chance to reveal the whole line of problems in the lives of Ukrainians abroad. Moreover, as Olexandra Kuzhel put it, on the outcomes of the official visit a series of commissions have been given already and drafts of significant decisions are in the process of elaboration.

So, the head of State Committee for Entrepreneurship and Regulatory Policy announced that, in particular, within the Cabinet of Ministers it is planned to set up a Council capable of solving issues of Ukrainians working outside Ukraine. Olexandra Kuzhel emphasized the body will comprise persons chosen by the public associations in a certain country: “Ukrainians abroad have a right to have a lobbyist body which is to control implementation of decisions and commissions approved in Ukraine”.

Olexandra Kuzhel underlined on the outcomes of the trip a number of significant issues to the Ukrainian functionaries have been raised in the direction of declaring profits, pension payments, validity of passports and other petty but not less significant questions.

So, for instance, the one to be decided is an issue of trips of Ukrainian migrant workers to their motherland as pursuant to the national legislation foreigners on their own automobile have a right to stay on Ukraine’s territory up to 60 days while Ukrainian citizens – only 10. According to Olexandra Kuzhel, the Ministry of Transport has been empowered to ready a draft decision on equal rights of Ukrainians and foreign citizens. At this, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine will ready draft documents concerning joint validation of driver’s rights.

Another issue which calls for regulation is cost of transportation to Ukraine of bodies of Ukrainian citizens in case of death: “A respective commission has been given to the Transport Ministry to fix minimal price for the mentioned services with a rate not exceeding such in Europe – 1.5 thousand Euros,” Olexandra Kuzhel stressed (with a rate of Eur 3.5 thousand being nowadays).

Besides, on demand of Ukrainians abroad an issue of passing state exams outside Ukraine has to be tackled: “The Prime Minister has empowered respective departments to go abroad and take state examinations from children who have studied in international schools within the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine,” Olexandra Kuzhel urged.

In his turn, deputy head of STA Serhii Lekar underlined an insufficient information campaign outside Ukrainian borders proves people are not aware of their rights and opportunities. “We should admit our citizens abroad are raising rather actual topics which in particular are connected with operation of tax service,” he underlined.

“The step made by the Government towards migrant workers from Ukraine in order to elucidate a series of positions is positive. This activity should be prolonged not only in these three countries but in other countries where our citizens are pursuing work,” Serhii Lekar emphasized.