COUNTRY FACT SHEET UKRAINE

Transcription

1 COUNTRY FACT SHEET UKRAINE (August 2013) Disclaimer IOM has carried out the gathering of information with great care. IOM provides information at its best knowledge and in all conscience. Nevertheless, IOM cannot assume to be held accountable for the correctness of the information provided. Furthermore, IOM shall not be liable for any conclusions made or any results, which are drawn from the provided information.

2 Table of Contents I. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 4 1. General Information 2. Public Transport 3. Communication Network 4. Obtaining of Documents Requested for Returnees II. SOCIAL WELFARE 9 1. General Information 2. Preconditions for Obtaining Allowances 3. Required Personal Documentation 4. Child Allowance 5. Special Conditions 6. Nongovernmental Organizations Providing Humanitarian Assistance III. PENSIONS General Information 2. Preconditions for Obtaining a Pension 3. Cost of Pension Insurance 4. Required Personal Documentation 5. Remittance of Accrued Entitlements through German NSS Pension Scheme IV. MEDICAL CARE General Information 2. Medical Infrastructure 3. Availability and Costs of Medicine 4. Availability of Medical Care and Treatment 5. Health Insurance 6. Required Personal Documentation 7. Public Charitable Foundation of healthcare support V. HOUSING Accommodation for Returnees without Families in Ukraine 2. Housing Space and Renting Costs 3. Electricity and Gas heating 4. Reconstruction Assistance 5. Reconstruction Conditions 6. Restitution of Property and Right of Abode VI. EMPLOYMENT Labour Market Situation 2. Employment Service 3. Unemployment Assistance 4. Further Educational Possibilities and Vocational Training VII. REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE Reintegration Assistance 2. Financial and Administrative support 3. Procedures to Start Self-employment VIII. EDUCATION Educational System and Infrastructure 2. Conditions for the Continuation of Education 3. Approval and Verification of Foreign Diplomas 4. Needed Documents for Returning Pupils/Students 5. Costs, Loans and Stipends 6. Vocational and Training Education 7. Measures to Integrate Migrants Children 8. Protection, Education, and Housing for Unaccompanied Migrant Children IX. VULNERABLE PERSONS Assistance to Women and Mothers Coming Home Alone 2. Old Persons 3. Persons with Mental Disorders 4. Education for disabled children 2

3 5. Other Minorities X. Other relevant information Military Service 2. Customs issues 3

4 I. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 1. General Information: Public Services / Infrastructure Ukrainian public services and infrastructure are heavily built on the Soviet structure. Although these services are still well developed in some areas, in most part, they have been negatively impacted by serious economic crises that followed the Soviet Union disintegration. Moreover, most areas of public services and infrastructure are generally under-financed. 2. Public Transport: Railways: All big cities, towns and a lot of villages have railway stations which can be reached by trains and electric trains. Electric trains (including local electric trains that run across all regions of Ukraine and neighboring countries) may be standard, inexpensive and less comfortable with a lot of stops. There are also comfortable electric trains. They may have 1 or 3 classes. These are high speed trains with cozy seats, TV sets and restaurants. The price for such trains is higher and depends on a class. Usual (not electric) trains can be standard or high-speed ones. Both types have 3 classes. In 2012, state company Ukrzaliznytsya created a high-speed passenger corridor (route) Lviv-Kyiv-Poltava-Kharkiv-Donetsk' and launched modern interregional day trains which greatly reduced travel time between the cities. Roads: All the roads in Ukraine have hard surface. Roads quality is better in big cities and between major Ukrainian oblast (regional) centers. Ride on all the roads (highways) is free of charge in Ukraine. Ports: Ukraine has access to the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. There are 18 trade ports (under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine), 4 sea ports and a lot of ports and docks that are property of private businesses and organizations. The 3 rd longest river of Europe flows in Ukraine. There is a great number of river ports as well. Airports: There are 24 airports in Ukraine; including 17 international 1. Travelling by Public Transport: There are no difficulties with transportation between major cities. One can get from one big city to another either by plane or train or bus or minibus or taxi. Rail transport 2 : one can purchase railway tickets at the Ukrainian center for passenger service on the rail transport of Ukraine at the address 38/40, Tarasa Shevchenka Avenue, Kyiv, tel.: A new online system for ticket booking and purchase was introduced in A passenger can check the availability of seats, look for ticket prices and purchase the tickets online. It is important to mention that, even if booked online, tickets still have to be collected at a ticket office. Bed linen in night trains is included into the ticket price. In order to purchase a railway ticket and get on a train one has to show the passport of the passenger. Kyiv - Simferopol Higher class compartment UAH ~ 85 EUR Middle class compartment UAH ~ 31 EUR Lower class compartment 155 UAH ~ 15 EUR Kyiv - Odesa Higher class compartment 703 UAH ~ 66 EUR Middle class compartment 209 UAH ~ 20 EUR Lower class compartment 99 UAH ~ 9 EUR Detailed info see on the sites: Cost of train tickets within Ukraine will increase by 10% as of 01 October 2013 р berths 6 4 berths 4

5 Kyiv - Lugansk Higher class compartment 844 UAH ~ 79 EUR Middle class compartment 246 UAH ~ 23 EUR Lower class compartment 136 UAH ~ 13 EUR Kyiv - Sevastopol Higher class compartment 922 UAH ~87 EUR Middle class compartment 311 UAH ~ 30 EUR Lower class compartment 169 UAH ~ 16 EUR Kyiv Ivano-Frankivsk Higher class compartment 775 UAH ~ 71 EUR Middle class compartment 245 UAH ~ 23 EUR Lower class compartment 124 UAH ~ 12 EUR Kyiv- Kharkiv Higher class compartment 638 UAH ~ 60 EUR Middle class compartment 196 UAH ~ 19 EUR Lower class compartment Intercity + (high-speed train) 1st class 2nd class 109 UAH ~ 11 EUR 455 UAH ~ 43 EUR 317 UAH~ 30 EUR Kyiv - lviv Higher class compartment 664 UAH ~ 65 EUR Middle class compartment Lower class compartment Intercity + (high-speed train) 1st class 2nd class 217 UAH ~ 21 EUR 106 UAH ~ 11 EUR 512 UAH ~ 49EUR 354 UAH ~ 34 EUR Kyiv - Dnipropetrovsk Higher class compartment 731 UAH ~ 69EUR Kyiv - Vinnytsya Kyiv - Khmelnytskyy Middle class compartment Lower class compartment High-speed train 1st class 2nd class High-speed train 1st class 2nd class High-speed train 1st class 2nd class 230 UAH ~ 22 EUR 126 UAH ~ 12 EUR 347 UAH~ 33 EUR 234 UAH~ 22 EUR 141 UAH ~ 14 EUR 70 UAH ~ 7 EUR 182 UAH ~ 18 EUR 90 UAH ~ 9 EUR Bus transport: Recently, bus passenger transportation system in Ukraine became more developed, more simplified and more accessible to passengers. Some carriers (Gunsel 7, Autolux 8 ) started to provide more comfortable transportation services, such as personal TV screen, air conditioner in the buses etc. However, these services became available for the most popular routes only. Regular buses depart from Kyiv Central Bus Station (3, Moskovska Square, Kyiv, tel.: , according to a fixed schedule for various destinations in Ukraine 9. Chernivtsi - Kyiv Kyiv Ivano-frankivsk Kyiv - Poltava Kyiv - Odesa Kyiv - Kharkiv Kyiv - Dnipropentovsk Kyiv - Donetsk Kyiv - Zaporizhzhya Kyiv - Lugansk 191 UAH ~ 19 EUR 219 UAH ~ 21 EUR 154 UAH ~ 15 EUR 260 UAH ~ 25 EUR 219 UAH ~ 21 EUR 175 UAH ~ 17 EUR 280 UAH ~ 28 EUR 248 UAH ~ 24 EUR 235 UAH ~ 23 EUR 7 Gunsel 8 Autolux 9 Please see detailed info at: 5

6 Kyiv - Yalta 319 UAH ~ 30 EUR It is also possible to get from Kyiv Central Railway Station to such cities as Rivne, Vinnytsya, Poltava, Odessa, Sumy, Khmelnytskyy taking a minibus. Transportation is organized by private transportation companies. There is no fixed schedule. Minibuses usually depart when they have a sufficient number of passengers for a certain destination. Prices for a travel in such minibuses vary. Air transport: The largest Ukrainian air company is Ukraine International Airlines (main office: Kharkivske Shose St, Kyiv, tel: +38 (044) , tel/fax: , ) A few web-sites of the agencies that offer air tickets are listed below: Average prices for one way tickets are presented below (these prices include both air fare and taxes; they are valid for July 2013): Kyiv - Simferopol Kyiv Odesa Kyiv - Lviv Kyiv - Uzhgorod Kyiv - Chenivtsi Kyiv - Lugansk Kyiv - Donetsk Kyiv - Zaporizhzhya 1830 UAH ~ 172 EUR 1300 UAH ~ 123 EUR 1600 UAH ~ 150 EUR 1860 UAH ~ 175 EUR Cancelled 1115 UAH ~ 105 EUR 1735 UAH ~ 163 EUR 1238 UAH ~ 117 EUR The public transportation system in Ukraine includes buses, trams and trolley buses (not in all cities), private minibuses and metro (not in all cities). Indicative prices for July 2013 Kyiv Other cities 1 bus (tramway, trolley bus) ticket UAH subway - 2 UAH 1 bus ticket for a private minibus UAH 1 km by taxi 4 UAH, outside of the city 5.00 UAH. This is a standard tariff. It is recommended to clarify the exact price with an operator of the taxi agency or a taxi driver. 1 bus (tramway, trolley bus,) ticket UAH 1 bus ticket for a private minibus UAH 1 km by taxi 2.5 UAH, outside the city 4.5 UAH This is a standard tariff. It is recommended to clarify the exact price with an operator of the taxi agency or a taxi driver. Taxi services companies: It is convenient to call a taxi company and order a cab. One would have to advise the exact address of the destination. One can ask the exact cost of the transportation to that place. Telephone numbers of some taxi companies in different cities of Ukraine: Kyiv Allo-taxi 38 (044) , 38 (044) ; Alfa-taxi (044) ; (050) ; Simferopol Taksi Tavrika ; Donetsk Taxi-life (062) ; 6

7 Kharkov Vega LTD (057) ; Dnepropetrovsk Dnepr-taxi (056) ; Vinnitsa (0432) ; Lviv Sofia-taxi (0322) Transportation of vulnerable cases Disabled war veterans, disabled workers, persons with childhood disability and veterans of work have the right to travel by metro, bus, trolleybus and local train free of charge. 3. Communication Network Ukraine's telecommunication development plan initiated in 2005 is aimed at improving local land line telephone networks, international connection lines and mobile telephone network. When Ukraine received its independence in 1991, the country inherited an out-dated, inefficient and, in some part, defective land line telephone network. At that time, 3.5 million persons have been waiting for the installation of a land line telephone. Over last several years, telephone network has well developed. The quality of local telephone lines has improved. In addition, cellular system has developed as well. Following the Order of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Ukraine "On Approval of Plan of Transition to Advanced Numbering System for Public Fixed Telephone Network in Ukraine" dated from , codes and international prefixes have been changed as of October 14, In order to call Ukrainian cities from within Ukraine, one should dial 0 a city code a telephone number. For international calls, one should dial 00 a country code a city code a telephone number Fees for land line telephone and mobile network services Ukrtelekom landline (private company) 11 : Type of service Payment for months UAH Cities and Villages and urbantype regional centres villages 1. Monthly fee for a separate telephone land line 1.1. Without hourly payment for telephone connection 1.2. With hourly payment for telephone connection (including 600 minutes of local connection) 2. Monthly fee/minute of local connection 2.1 From 1 to 600 minutes From 601 minutes Automatic interurban telephone connection Payment for 1 minute of connection, UAH Working days from 8:00 from 18:00 from 23:00 to18:00 to 23:00 to 8:00 Within oblast (region) Within Ukraine Weekend and holidays 24 hours 10 For more information, please see:

8 Golden Telecom (private company) 12 : Monthly fee that includes 600 minutes of local connections UAH: Local calls (within a city) cost 0.05 UAH per minute. Interurban calls (oblasts and other regions of Ukraine) 0.50 UAH. List of mobile service companies and average fee for cellular network connection Golden Telecom 1.00 UAH per minute, MTS 1.20 UAH per minute, Kyiv Star 1.20 UAH per minute, Astelit (Life) 1.04 UAH per minute, TM Beeline 0.96 UAH per minute, People.net 1.20 UAH per minute, Internet providers Obtaining Documents requested for Returnees Addresses and contact details of the Consular department of the Ukrainian Embassy and Consulates in Germany 13 Reception days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday. Reception time: from 9 a.m. to a.m. (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) from 2 p.m. to p.m. (Tuesday) The consular department of the Ukrainian Embassy and Consulates in Germany do not work on weekends and on national holidays. Consular department of the Embassy of Ukraine in Berlin Albrechtstrasse Berlin-Mitte Tel.: (information number) Fax.: emb_de@mfa.gov.ua, ukremb@ukrainische-botschaft.de Website: Consular district: the competence of the Consular department of the Embassy of Ukraine to Germany spreads on the federal lands - Berlin, Brandenburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Sachsen, Thüringen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Sub-office of the Embassy of Ukraine in Bonn Rheinhöhenweg Remagen-Oberwinter Tel , Fax: emb_de2@mfa.gov.ua Website: Consular district: the competence of the Embassy of Ukraine in Bonn spreads on the federal lands - Nordrhein-Westfalen

9 General Consulate in Hamburg Mundsburger Damm Hamburg Tel.: /18 Fax.: gc_deg@mfa.gov.ua Website: Consular district: the competence of the General Consulate of Ukraine in Hamburg spreads on the federal lands - Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Bremen, Niedersachsen. General Consulate in Frankfurt am Main Vilbeler Strasse Frankfurt am Main Tel.: Fax.: gc_def@mfa.gov.ua Website: Consular district: the competence of the General Consulate of Ukraine in Frankfurt am Main spreads on the federal lands - Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland. General Consulate in Munich Lessingstr München Tel.: Fax.: gk_dem@mfa.gov.ua Website: Consular district: the competence of the General Consulate of Ukraine in Munich spreads on the federal lands - Bayern, Baden-Württemberg. Consular sections of Ukraine abroad issue Certificate for Returning to Ukraine to citizens of Ukraine who permanently reside in Germany, in case of loss or damage of their travel documents during their stay abroad. The certificate is valid for entry to Ukraine and for transit travel on the territory of other countries on the way to Ukraine. Following documents should be submitted for the issuance of a Certificate for returning to Ukraine in the Embassy of Ukraine in Germany or General consulates in Munich, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg: personal application explaining the circumstances under which the travel passport was lost; application-questionnaire for issuing Certificate for returning to Ukraine (annex); certificate from the police stating that the travel passport was lost; 3 photos 35 x 45 mm; documents proving the Ukrainian citizenship of the person (national passport etc.). The cost of the Certificate for returning to Ukraine is 40 Euro. II. SOCIAL WELFARE 1. General Information: Legislation Citizens of Ukraine, foreigners, stateless persons and refugees who legally reside on the territory of Ukraine have the right to receive social assistance from the state of Ukraine. There 9

10 are numerous legal acts which define groups of persons subject to assistance. However, it should be noted that Ukrainian social assistance is very nominal and is not sufficient for living. There are two major types of assistance that can be provided: material allowances (money, food, clothes, shoes, fuel etc.). The amount for money allowance is calculated according to the monthly income of a person; social services: Socio-common (food, transport services, delivery of medicines etc.); psychological (psychological consultations); Socio-educational (organization of individual education process, leisure, exercise activities etc.); socio-medical (health care services); socio-economic (cash security, one-time payment); Legal (legal consultation, protection of human rights, court representation, justification of legal documents etc.); assistance with job placement (search of relevant jobs); Professional rehabilitation for disabled persons (complex of medical, psychological, informational support etc.); Informational support. 2. Preconditions for obtaining Allowances Preconditions for obtaining social assistance differ depending on the type of allowance requested. Usually, a person has to prove her/his eligibility with proving the fact of belonging to this or that group. For example: fact of losing job (previous availability of job) for unemployed persons; fact of work trauma and loss of capacity to work; information on income in case of law-income families etc. Information about different kinds of assistance and preconditions for its obtaining can be found at - site of Ukrainian legislation. 3. Required Personal Documentation personal application; birth certificate (child allowance, solitary women, orphans and children deprived of parental care etc); passport. 4. Child Allowance The following allowances are granted: due to pregnancy and childbirth for unemployed women (25% per month of living wage determined by law for able to work women) since 1st of January UAH 14 ; payments after birth (in 2013): (a) total for the first child UAH, (b) total for the second child UAH, (c) total for the third and next children UAH; These child allowances after birth are granted in a few installments. The first part is paid at

11 the birth 9720 UAH for the first baby, 9720 UAH for the second one and 9720 UAH for the third one. In addition, 810 UAH are paid monthly during 24 months for the first baby, 1012,50 UAH are paid monthly during 48 months for the second child, 1485 UAH are paid monthly during 72 months for the third child. allowance for baby caring till age of 3: not less than 130 UAH and maximum 1147 UAH 15 ; allowance in case of adoption a child is the same as child allowance after the birth the first child. allowance to children who are under guardianship: 2 living wages for a child of proper age: (a) for children till the age of 6 maximum 1944 UAH 16 ; (b) from 6 to 18 maximum 2420 UAH 17 ; allowance to solitary mothers or fathers: (a) for children till the age of 6 minimum 291,60 UAH, maximum 486 UAH 18, (b) for children from 6 to 18 years minimum 363 UAH, maximum 605 UAH 19, allowance for orphans and children deprived of parental care (a) for children till age of 6 maximum 1664 UAH, (b) from 6 to 18 years maximum 1994 UAH; temporary allowance to children whose parents evade alimony or have no possibility to keep child or their place of residence is unknown: (a) for child till age of 6 maximum 291,60 UAH 20, (b) from 6 to 18 years maximum 363 UAH Special Conditions Old persons The following services are provided: free of charge medical care in geriatric centers, outpatient centers etc; free of charge facilities in sanatoria and health care; free of charge dental care, aerophones; social services support of vital activity; housing assistance; charity food service; cultural service; ritual services. Solitary women The allowance is granted to solitary women (not registered in marriage), solitary adoptive fathers/mothers, in case if child s birth certificate doesn t contain information about mother/father. The allowance is also granted to widow/widower with children, who divorced before death, who does not receive pension in case of loss of main family provider or other social allowance. Solitary woman with children, who is not registered in marriage but factually lives with a man, is not granted the allowance. Precondition to receive the allowance is certificate from registry office. The amount that can be received is not less than 30% of monthly minimum wage of the family per child UAH as of 30 September UAH as of 1 December UAH as of 1 December Minimum 309,60 UAH and maximum 516 UAH as of 1 December Minimum 385,80 UAH and maximum 643 UAH as of 1 December ,60 UAH as of 1 December ,80 UAH as of 1 December

12 Orphans, children deprived of parental care State provides full maintenance of orphans and children deprived of parental care 22. The maintenance cannot be lower than determined minimum standards, which are provided to every child to develop her physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social abilities. Social services: minimum material allowance, expenses on food, clothes and shoes; housing till age of 18; housing after 18 years old, if they don t have a place of residence; first job, employer cannot fire during first 3 years of employment; one-time state financial support after 18 years old; monthly payment in case of studying till 23 years old; medical support; toys, books, newspapers, sport equipment. Orphans and children deprived of parental care that study are provided with 150 % of ordinary scholarship, 100% of wages during industrial training. Other minorities According to the Law of Ukraine on National minorities in Ukraine, minorities in Ukraine have the same social rights as Ukrainian nationals. 6. Non-governmental organizations providing humanitarian assistance Red Cross Society: The Ukrainian Red Cross Society was established in April, 1918 in Kiev as an independent humanitarian society of the Ukrainian People's Republic 23. Its immediate tasks were to help refugees and prisoners of war, care of handicapped people, orphaned children, fighting famine and epidemics, support and organize sick quarters, hospitals and public canteens. At present, the Ukrainian Red Cross involves more than 8.6 million of supporters and activists. Its Visiting Nurses Service has 3200 qualified nurses. The organization takes part in more than 40 humanitarian programmes all over Ukraine, which are mostly funded by public donation and corporate partnerships. By its own estimations, the Society annually provides services to more than of lonely elderly people, about of people disabled during the Second World War and handicapped workers, more than of war veterans, and more than of adults handicapped since childhood. The assistance for orphaned and disabled children is also rendered. Ukrainian Red Cross Society (since 1999) is a member of the International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies. The Salus Charitable Foundation: was established in Lviv in January 1996 by a group of physicians 24. Its activities cover the area of Western Ukraine. Since 2003 Salus has been a member organization of the European Public Health Association (EPHA). Since its foundation, Salus has carried out many public-health programs, projects, art actions, and hundreds of trainings with the goal of encouraging health-enhancing behavior, good reproductive and sexual health and the prevention of violence among youth. Salus focuses its attention on the prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It has carried out many educational and informational projects that increase awareness among the general population about HIV and STIs, especially among youth. It also aims to popularize healthy and safe lifestyle choices. The foundation runs a Crisis Center, where women specifically, victims of violence, rape, and human trafficking-- can seek medico-diagnostic and psychotherapeutic services. The Salus staff also works with individuals at high risk for HIV-transmission, such as women working in the sex trade and the incarcerated

13 Little Prince: non-profit and Non-Governmental organization supporting people with autism 25. Ukrainian Step by Step Foundation: (USSF) - is a national non-governmental non-profit organization founded by the International Renaissance Foundation (Kiev, Ukraine) and Children s Resources International (Washington DC, USA) on 15 th of June, Mission of the Ukrainian Step by Step Foundation is to contribute to implementation of educational reforms of individually oriented, inclusive education model with active involvement of families and communities by conducting trainings for teachers, parents, representatives of non-governmental organization; initiating and implementing projects, directed to providing equal access to quality education for all children, including children with special needs; involving families and communities in the educational and governing processes. Melody of Life: The NGO «Melody of Life» (Melodiya Zhyttya) was established on December 1, 2008, to provide quality social and rehabilitation services for children with special needs and families, and to advocate their interests 27.The main activities of the organization are: organizing of rehabilitation and recreation for children with special needs and their parents through a country health camp; organizing a day care group for disabled people in Lviv; leisure activities for children with special needs; organizing volunteer movements. III. PENSIONS 1. General Information: Legislation The pension system in Ukraine was reformed bу The reform included a gradual introduction of a three level pension system: A solidary system which includes three types of pensions 29 : A. age pension: as a result of the reform of the pension system, the retirement age has raised. Since the end of 2011 the retirement age has been increasing every half a year. At the end of the reform the retirement age became 62 for men and 60 for women. 35 years of work experience for men and 30 years of work experience for women are needed to obtain a pension. People who were born after 1st of August 1960 will gain their pension at least at 60 years old. The minimum pension is equal to minimum living wage for disabled persons which is 894 UAH as of 01 January B. pension for disabled persons: This level of pension is divided into three groups depending on the disability group. From the 1 st of January 2013 disability group I receives 285% of the age pension ,90 UAH; disability group II receives 255% of the age pension ,70 UAH and disability group III receives 225% of the age pension ,50 UAH 31. These groups are defined according to the physical condition of disabled persons. Persons in group I require exterior assistance. Persons in group II do not require exterior assistance, but have obvious malfunction of organism which limits their studying or working abilities. Persons in group III have chronic illness due to injury, defect which are reducing the ability to work; 25 This organization previously had a title Sunny Circle For more detailed information, please see: Minimum pension will become 949 UAH as of 01 December roku.html 13

14 C. pension in case of loss of main family provider 32 : A disabled or aged husband/wife/mother/father, disabled child, child that study at institution, university of I-IV level of accreditation until 23 years old etc., receives pension. The pension is 50% of age pension per one invalid family member. In case if several invalid members claim, 100% of the age pension is divided by the number of claimers. An accumulative pension system 33. At present, this system is under elaboration. Insurance payment to the compulsory-all state pension insurance is supposed to be transferred into the accumulative fund. Citizens under 40 years will be able to join this system. The system will include the following pensions: A. life time pension: - life-time pension with determined period (monthly payment, which is provided till the end of life, but not less than 10 years since the time of appointment), - life-time pension (monthly payment, provided during the life of pensioner), - matrimonial pension (monthly payment to a person, after his/her death is transferred to his/her husband/wife after he/she retires); B. one-time payment (is provided in case of permanent emigration). A private pension systems will be based on voluntary participation of citizens, employers and their associations in creation of pension accumulations 34. Private pension maintenance will be provided by: pension funds, by signing pension agreements between managers of pension funds and depositors; insurance companies, by signing life-time pension agreements, disablement insurance or life insurance; banks, by opening pension accounts. Introduction of private pension systems is a part of the pension system reform which has not been fully implemented yet. The private pension system will be accessible for all Ukrainian citizens, including returnees. 2. Preconditions for obtaining a Pension 35 Age pension The precondition for obtaining age pension is to have no less than 15 years of work experience. In case a person postpones his or her retirement, and complies with the requirement of having 30/35 years of work experience to receive the minimum pension, the following accumulations are provided: Years of postponing retirement Increase of pension 1 year 3% 2 years 6.71% 3 years 11,83% 4 years 18, 64% 5 years 27,07% 6 years 36,46%

15 7 years 46,85% 8 years 58,43% For disabled persons For receiving the pension for disabled persons, it has to be determined to which group of disablement a person belongs. Pension is granted for all the time of disablement. Pension is granted for aged persons till the end of their life. As for others, there are special medical and social expert commissions that examine their physical condition every 3 years. The requirement for receiving the pension the first time is to provide a medical certificate. In order to receive the pension for disabled pensions, the following requirements in terms of work experience has to be met: till 23 years old - 2 years of work experience; from 24 till 26 years old 3 years of work experience; from 27 till 31 years old 4 years of work experience; from 32 years and older 5 years of work experience. 3. Cost of Pension Insurance The cost of pension insurance within the accumulative system is 7% of monthly wage Required Personal Documentation 37 In order to obtain a pension, the following documents are required to be handed: application for granting pension; documentations on work experience (original); certificate on amount of wage (original); documents on residence of person; documents on specific status of person; petition on pre-term pension. 5. Remittance of accrued Entitlements through German NSS Pension Scheme Citizens of Ukraine who emigrated on permanent residence are not granted pensions, only pensions on work related injury (impairment) and professional disease could be granted. Foreign pensions are recognized if there are bilateral or multilateral international agreements on that. The Agreement on legal assistance in civil, family and criminal cases between USSR and German Democratic Republic from is valid, as well as the Common declaration on relations between Ukraine and Federative Republic of Germany from Returnees have to hand document on their participation in pension system in Germany to the Ministry of Labour and Social policy of Ukraine, so that they could be registered for receiving the pension. IV. MEDICAL CARE 1. General Information As the State promotes the development of medical institutions of all forms of ownership, there are both state and private hospitals and clinics in Ukraine пенсійного страхування&searchforum=1&searchdocarch=1&searchpublishing=

16 The Ukrainian Constitution states that the State is responsible for the creation of conditions for effective medical service accessible to all citizens. State and communal health protection institutions provide medical care free of charge. It does not include medicines, which the patients have to purchase on their own account. The economic crisis in the country has had a catastrophic impact on medical services. Hospitals are being deteriorating, doctors are poorly paid, medicine and equipment are in short supply. The situation in central cities is better than in rural areas, where hospitals can hardly provide for any serious treatment. A person from the countryside, with a more or less serious medical problem, should seek assistance in the nearest regional (local town) hospital. 2. Medical Infrastructure There are more than 7000 medical centers in Ukraine. Types: scientific and research centers hospitals and special health care centers outpatients clinics sanatorium-and-resort institutions Local representation of Ministry of Health in different regions 38 : Local administration of Ministry of Health in Crimea 8, Semashka St., Simferopil 95026, Crimea Tel: , Local administration of Ministry of Health in Vinnitsa region 7, Khmelnytsky highway, Vinnitsa 21100, Tel: vinuoz@ukrpost.ua Local administration of Ministry of Health in Volyn region 5, Suvorova str., Lutsk 43000, Tel: Local administration of Ministry of Health in Dnipropetrovsk region 2, Kirova av., Dnipropetrovsk 49004, Tel: , guoz@adm.dp.ua Local administration of Ministry of Health in Donetsk region 34, Pushkina str., Donetsk 83105, Tel: , zdrav@donoda.gov.ua Local administration of Ministry of Health in Zakarpattya region Tel: , uoz@uoz.org.ua Local administration of Ministry of Health in Zaporizhzhya region

17 164 Lenina Ave, Zaporizhzhya Tel: Local administration of Ministry of Health in Zhytomyr region 25, Mala Berdychivska Str, Zhytomyr Tel: Local administration of Ministry of Health in Ivano-Frankivsk region 21, Grushevskogo Str, Ivano-Frankivsk Tel: Local administration of Ministry of Health in Kirovograd region 74/42, Dzerzhynskogo Str., Kirovograd Tel: Local administration of Ministry of Health in Rivne region 38, 16 th July Str, Rivne Tel: ; Local administration of Ministry of Health in Sumy region 57, Dzerzhynskogo Str, Sumy Tel: ; Local administration of Ministry of Health in Ternopil region 8, Grushevskogo Str., Ternopil Tel: Local administration of Ministry of Health in Lviv region 3, Konopnytskoyi Str., Lviv Tel: Local administration of Ministry of Health in Mykolayiv region 18, Spaska Str., Mykolayiv Tel: Local administration of Ministry of Health in Kharkiv region 5 Svobody Square, build. 9 Kharkiv Tel: wwwkharkivoda.gov.ua, 17

18 Local administration of Ministry of Health in Khmelnytskyi region 46, Shevchenka Str, Khmelnytskyi Tel: Local administration of Ministry of Health in Cherkasy region 185, Shevchenka Blvd., Cherkasy Tel: Local administration of Ministry of Health in Chernihiv region 1-B, Shchorsa Str., Chernihiv Tel: ; oblzdrav@yandex.ru Local administration of Ministry of Health in Chernivtsi region 1, Grushevskogo Str, Chernivtsi Tel: office@guoz.cv.ua Ministry of Health of Ukraine in Kyiv City 19, Prorizna Str., Kyiv Tel: admin@health.kiev.ua 3. Availability and Costs of Medicine In most cases, medicaments are available; however, patients should purchase them on their own account. The cost of medicaments depends upon the sphere of treatment and producer. Medicaments imported to Ukraine are more expensive than those produced in Ukraine. For example, a pack of aspirin (20 pills) produced in Ukraine would approximately cost UAH and the same produced in Switzerland would cost UAH. 4. Availability of Medical Care and Treatment According to the Ukrainian legislation, everyone has the right to health protection, medical care and medical insurance. The State and communal health protection institutions provide medical care free of charge to all Ukrainian citizens. But due to constant insufficient funding, the state medical treatment is often on a rather poor level. Free of charge medical care is financed on the account of proceeds from the compulsory social insurance that is a part of the tax system of Ukraine. Private medical treatment and private health insurance are also available, especially in the urban centers. The most popular private healthcare clinics are Medikom ( and Borys ( The costs of their services are rather expensive, but the quality is often higher than those provided in public hospitals. This can be explained by the fact that the state does not provide enough funding to the medical sphere. 18

19 There is a network of mental hospital in Ukraine. Their level differs according the stage of mental disorder. The upper level mental hospital is located in Kyiv city. Patients are provided with full board accommodation and medical treatment. Ukraine provides emergency services in case of trauma/accidents. Transplantation of organs can be provided in specific transplantation hospitals in Kyiv and Kharkiv and in ordinary hospitals in Kyiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, Lviv, Odesa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kirovograd, Lutsk, Mariupol, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Cherkasy, Chernivtsi. 5. Health Insurance The Ukrainian legislation provides for two types of insurance: obligatory and voluntary. Medical insurance is listed among the types of obligatory insurance. However, it does not exist yet in practice. The voluntary types of insurance are: life insurance, accident insurance, permanent medical health insurance and health insurance in cases of illness. Information about insurance companies can be found at For example, the annual medical insurance in insurance company INGO-Ukraine costs, depending on various insurance plans, from 2603 UAH to 7980 UAH Required Personal Documentation In order to receive health care at a public health care centre, a person has to provide his or her identification document (national passport) and medical card. Private clinics do not request any documents. In order to receive general health treatment in state clinic one has to be registered in the area which is covered by that clinic. 7. Public Non-governmental Charitable Foundations working in the area of healthcare Donetsk City Charity Foundation "Dobrota" 40 The Foundation's mission is a struggle against poverty through the renaissance of the civic philanthropy and charitable social partnership development in the Donetsk regional community as means of solving the most urgent social problems. The main purpose of the Foundation is rational organizing and providing direct material aid to the Health Care, Education, Social Protection institutions and directly to the most indigent strata of the Donetsk City population. The Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation 41 is an independent, nonprofit, nonpolitical charitable organization, founded in Kyiv in The Chair of Ukraine 3000 International foundation is Kateryna Yushchenko. The Foundation s mission is to do good and encourage others to do so as well. The Foundation works in three major areas Historical and Cultural Area, Medical Area and Educational Area. "International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine" (Alliance Ukraine) 42 The Alliance Ukraine is the biggest non-governmental organization working in the field of HIV/AIDS in Ukraine and one of the largest in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It was founded in 2002 and currently our team consists of more than 90 professionals. Elena Pinchuk Anti AIDS Foundation 43 is a non-governmental charitable organization working in the field of HIV/AIDS in Ukraine. V. HOUSING 1. Accommodation for Returnees without Family in Ukraine

20 There are no special social/public services that are responsible for helping returnees in finding a place to live. Centre for reintegration of homeless citizens of Ukraine within the Ministry of Labour and Social policy provides support to homeless people. Homeless citizens are accommodated within the centre, provided with food and given other necessary services for intellectual development 44. The following documents should be submitted to the centre: personal application; Extraction from medical card. Before being accepted to the centre, a person has to sign an agreement with the centre, which determines term of staying there, services that are to be provided, rights and obligations of both parties. With regards to the social accommodation, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine as of 19 March, 2008, fixed the following temporary minimal standards: 6 sqm of dwelling space per one person in social hostels for families and singles; 22 sqm of general dwelling space in apartments and country houses per family of 2 persons and additionally 9.3 sqm per each next family member. 2. Housing Space and Renting Costs The housing situation in Ukraine is very difficult. The government provides some dwelling, however in a very limited quantity. Most people live in apartments built during the Soviet period. According to the Ukrainian legislation, the government provides square meter of dwelling space per person (excluding lavatory, kitchen and corridor) 45. Citizens of Ukraine have the right to rent state dwelling for perpetual term. To obtain a dwelling premise one has to be registered in the district council according to the place of residence and place of employment. One can be refused of registration because of the following: moving to another for permanent residence within the country (registration according to place of residence); change of place of employment (according to place of work); conviction to 6 month of imprisonment; submitting fake documents for registration. In case of death of registered person, his family has the right of his record. The following categories of persons are granted dwelling in the first place: families of soldiers; heroes of Soviet Union; seriously ill persons, suffering from chronic diseases; persons suffering from HIV/AIDS; mothers, granted Mother-heroine award; families with twins. The following categories of persons are granted premises out of turn: disabled veterans of Second World War; citizens whose dwellings were damaged due to natural disaster; disabled children without family