OREANDA-NEWS. July 21, 2014. The cabinet approved a draft aimed at regulating the work of interpreters and translators hired by the Superior Council of Magistracy, Justice Ministry, Prosecutor General's Office bodies, criminal investigation bodies, courts, notaries, lawyers and bailiffs, as well as at checking the quality of services provided by them, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.

"A monitoring report showed that there are no provisions in the current legislation concerning the standards of quality of documents drafted by the translators or interpreters’ actions, rules on the record of their work. Authorised translators and interpreters are part of the professions related to the justice system and their role is to ensure access to justice for all citizens, provide quality services to courts, law enforcement bodies," said Justice Minister Oleg Efrim.

Thus, the main provisions of the draft are modifying the conditions for accession to the profession of translator and / or interpreter by widening the circle of people who can apply for the examination, establishing requirements for ensuring the quality of services provided by interpreters and translators, etc.

The draft also proposes that translators and interpreters who are also civil servants should work only based on authorisations and not on individual employment contracts.

Also, the quality of services provided by notaries will be carefully monitored. To this effect, the government has approved a draft to ensure a better work and organisation of notaries and give them back their independence. The document contains rules for determining the status of the trainee notary, clear conditions for admission to the profession; improving institutions of suspension, cessation of the notary’s activity; establishing grounds and the types of liability of notaries, penalties and their application.

The document also proposes setting up of the Notary Chamber as self-administration body representing the profession. “Moreover, to ensure the independence of notaries and enhance the quality of their services, dividing the supervisory functions between Notary Chamber and Justice Ministry is proposed. Thus, the Notary Chamber will be a self-administration body to defend the profession and the Justice Ministry will exercise the duty of control over notaries and promotion of policies in this area," said Minister Oleg Efrim.

Both drafts will be debated in the parliament.