Draft law seriously weakens collective bargaining rights: A draft law "About Collective Bargaining Agreements" considerably narrows the scope of collective bargaining agreements. A copy of the law, issued by the Ministry of Social Policy, was sent by the Joint Representative Body (JRB) to the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU) for approval. The KVPU was not consulted during the preparation of the draft Law.

If the new law is adopted, national and territorial collective agreements will be liquidated, which could result in less protection for workers. The new bill also states that collective bargaining agreements are not obligatory measures, enabling the employer to reduce obligations and guarantees. Furthermore, the draft gives the employer the right to suspend implementation of a collective agreement for an uncertain period of time. The bill does not contain measures to hold anyone to account in the event of violations of a collective agreement.

Furthermore, it introduces language to weaken existing laws. For example, part 7 Art 65 of the Industrial Code of Ukraine is to be changed from "must conclude the collective agreement" to "can conclude".

Assault on mine workers' leader: Anatolyi Mukhamedzhanov, the head of the Primary Trade Union at the Novovolynska mine was beaten up in the office of the mining company's director, on 3 February 2016. The Independent Trade Union of Coal Miners of Ukraine (NPGU) believed the purpose of the attack was to intimidate the leader of the independent miners' union, following protests against planned closures and privatisation.

Striking miners sacked and facing possible treason charges in Donetsk: Miners in Kremlin-backed militant-controlled Makiyivka were facing possible trial for 'treason' after going on strike on 13 January 2016 over unpaid wages.

According to a local newspaper, the 'authorities' of the self-styled 'Donetsk People's Republic' ['DNR'] had identified the organisers of what they called 'sabotage' and were carrying out a criminal investigation.

Some of the miners were paid a part of their outstanding wages, but reports on social networks said that 132 of the strikers had been sacked. In a similar incident at the Chaikino Mine miners who went on strike on 29 December 2015 were also paid part of their wages but many were reportedly sacked According to social network reports, an order was issued to not take the striking miners on at other mines.

The city administration's official website reported on 23 January 2016 that the so-called 'DNR energy ministry' had stated that: "a war is waging and no sabotage is therefore acceptable and can only be viewed as treason". The Ministry acknowledged that there were problems with wage arrears but asserted that these were temporary.

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