Dignified working conditions for war veterans – one of the priority areas of state social policy

Abstract

Problem setting. The article conducts a comprehensive scientific and legal analysis of the concept of decent working conditions and their provision for war veterans as one of the priority areas of the state social policy of the state. The theoretical and legal nature of the concept of decent work is revealed, the legislation of Ukraine and international acts in the field of labor rights are analyzed. Problematic issues of legal regulation of relations in the field of ensuring decent working conditions for war veterans are outlined, in particular, the indicative nature of guarantees, the fragmentation of state policy, the lack of incentives for employers and weak interdepartmental coordination. Ways of improving the legal mechanism for ensuring decent work for war veterans are proposed, which consist in coordinating actions between state bodies, ministries and departments for the effective solution of common tasks. It is noted that the presence of relevant problems is due not only to limited financial support from the state, but also to the lack of a comprehensive mechanism for labor reintegration and weak interaction between the state and business in the field of veterans’ employment. The combination of these factors leads to complications in the realization of the right to work by veterans, an increase in the risks of unemployment and the loss of part of their professional potential. The feasibility of developing a comprehensive strategy and state program to overcome problems related to ensuring decent work for war veterans is substantiated. The main tasks of the concept of “decent work” for veterans should be: a) determining the key principles and strategic directions of the functioning of the legal mechanism for ensuring decent working conditions; b) improving legislation in the field of their employment and social protection; c) creating an effective system of interagency cooperation; d) preventing the emergence of negative socio-economic consequences associated with the insufficient implementation of veterans’ labor rights, and transforming their potential into a resource for sustainable development of the state. Analyses of recent researches and publications. Studies of the phenomenon of decent work in Ukraine are highlighted in the scientific works of many Ukrainian scientists, in particular: L. P. Amelicheva, N. M. Vapnyarchuk, V. V. Zhernakova, A. M. Kolot, O. G. Sereda, O. M. Yaroshenko, and other researchers. Article’s main body is to outline problematic issues in the employment of war veterans in the context of providing them with decent working conditions, as well as to identify effective ways to improve the relevant legal mechanism for labor adaptation, taking into account the likelihood of existing moral and professional deformation among military personnel. Conclusions and prospects for the development. Summing up the research, it should be noted that ensuring decent working conditions for war veterans is one of the key areas of modern state social policy of Ukraine in the context of war and post-war development. Decent work is not only a tool for the economic independence of veterans, but also an important factor in their social reintegration, restoration of social status and realization of human potential. It has been established that the current system of legal support for veterans’ work is characterized by a number of problems, including the fragmentation of regulatory and legal regulation, insufficient coordination of actions between state authorities, limited effective mechanisms for professional adaptation and insufficient level of incentives for employers to employ veterans. This necessitates the formation of a comprehensive approach to improving the legal mechanism for ensuring decent work for this category of persons. It is substantiated that the key area of increasing the effectiveness of state policy in this area should be the strengthening of interdepartmental coordination and integration of the efforts of state authorities, local governments, employers and civil society. The implementation of the concept of decent work as a basic principle for the formation of social and labor policy, which will contribute to ensuring equal opportunities, increasing the level of employment of veterans, reducing social risks and effectively using their professional potential, is of great importance. At the same time, this will create the prerequisites for strengthening social stability and sustainable development of the state. Thus, the formation of a holistic, coordinated and effective system of legal support for decent work for war veterans should become one of the priorities of the state policy of Ukraine, which will meet modern challenges and contribute to the successful post-war reconstruction of the country.