Odessa Regional Administration on Publicly Beneficial Work: Participation in the Project is Voluntary

In the Odessa region, as part of the state program 'Army of Recovery', approximately 1,200 individuals have been engaged in publicly beneficial work since the beginning of the year. Participation in this project is entirely voluntary, as emphasized by representatives of the Odessa Regional Military Administration (OVA).

On Tuesday, while commenting on local media reports about the alleged introduction of 'labor duty' for residents of Odessa, the OVA noted that recent reports of the forced involvement of citizens in tasks such as debris removal, shelter construction, and others arose from a misinterpretation of the 'Army of Recovery' program. According to OVA representatives, the program was introduced in 2022 and aims to engage unemployed citizens, including registered job seekers, in publicly beneficial work during the state of war.

The OVA stressed that although the term 'labor duty' does exist in legislation as a mechanism for organizing work during a state of war, the 'Army of Recovery' program specifically pertains to the voluntary participation of citizens. 'People make their own decisions to join, and this forms the motivation and quality of the outcome. There are no elements of coercion or obligation in this initiative,' the administration stated.

The Odessa OVA also highlighted that the program's mechanism has proven effective in 20 regions of Ukraine, including Odessa, and is now fully operational in the regional center. The true significance of this initiative lies in its mutually beneficial nature for all parties involved, as individuals seeking employment gain the opportunity for official earnings through work that has real practical benefits.

Among the main areas of publicly beneficial work offered under the program are assistance to individuals with limited mobility and the elderly, work in shelters and resilience points, as well as tasks related to unloading, packaging, and delivering humanitarian aid. Additionally, program participants can engage in the production of camouflage nets, the elimination of the consequences of shelling, debris removal, and the restoration of residential infrastructure.

The OVA noted that these areas are critically necessary for the Odessa region. Speaking about financial compensation for completed work, administration representatives clarified that this year the amount is approximately 12,970 UAH per month, and for residents of frontline areas and veterans, it can be up to 17,000 UAH. Thus, communities receive additional manpower to carry out critically important tasks that lack resources, while the state ensures employment for people and the restoration of territories.

Since the beginning of the year, approximately 1,200 people have been involved in publicly beneficial work in the Odessa region, and a total of over 13,400 participants have taken part since the program's inception. The most active work is being conducted in the Podilsk and Bolhrad districts, where 4,337 and 3,875 individuals have been engaged, respectively, throughout the program's duration. This confirms the project's effectiveness, as 'Odessa has only recently joined it,' the OVA emphasized.

The regional authorities also noted that across Ukraine, over 90,000 Ukrainians have participated in the project, with more than 3 billion UAH allocated for payments. 'This initiative provides the opportunity to work, be useful, support the country, and at the same time earn an income. That is why the program has an exclusively positive effect for both people and the state,' the OVA concluded.