The Verkhovna Rada is considering allowing MPs to bring their children to sessions
Draft Law No. 15371 has been registered on the website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
On 30 June, Draft Law No. 15371 ‘On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding the Guarantee of Labour Rights of Members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine with Children’ was registered in the Verkhovna Rada.
It was sponsored by more than 40 Members of Parliament from various parliamentary groups and factions. Among the initiators are Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada; Oleksandr Korniienko, First Deputy Speaker; Olena Kondratyuk, Deputy Speaker; as well as MPs Maryna Bardina, Maria Mezentseva-Fedorenko and others.
The aim is to allow MPs to bring their children to parliamentary sessions
As stated in the explanatory note, the draft bill aims to create conditions that will allow MPs to combine the performance of their parliamentary duties with childcare.
To this end, it is proposed to enshrine the right of an MP to be accompanied by a young child during plenary sessions of the Verkhovna Rada, meetings of committees, temporary special and investigative commissions, and parliamentary factions and groups, in cases where this is necessary to ensure childcare.
Why is this draft law needed?
The authors of the document note that current legislation does not take into account the specific nature of the work of MPs who have young children.
The aim of the bill is to ensure equal opportunities for the performance of parliamentary duties regardless of whether a member is a father or a mother, and to create a more family-friendly working environment in parliament.
The bill is currently under consideration by the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Rules of Procedure, Parliamentary Ethics and the Organisation of the Verkhovna Rada’s Work.
So far, the document has only been registered. For the proposed changes to come into force, it must be supported by MPs and signed by the President of Ukraine.
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