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Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers has finalized changes to the employee reservation system, ending unconditional 100% exemptions from mobilization, including for companies in the energy and defense industries, Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said.
The government says the changes aim to establish clearer and fairer rules for both civilians and military personnel.
Company eligibility to be reassessed
The criteria for classifying companies as critical to the economy will be separated from their economic performance. Industry-specific and regional criteria will be updated and reviewed for potential abuse.
Exceptions for energy and defense companies
Unconditional full reservation will be abolished for all companies. However, defense industry and energy companies will be able to submit a justified request to the Coordination Center for full reservation when production needs require it.
Possible route to 100% reservation
The government is also developing a mechanism that would allow companies to reserve all eligible employees if they regularly arrange for a portion of their workforce to voluntarily join the Armed Forces for a clearly defined period, with their jobs and salaries preserved.
“Unconditional full reservation is unfair to those serving and creates opportunities for abuse,” Koretskyi said, adding that some companies had been established specifically to secure mobilization exemptions.
The Defense and Economy ministries, working with businesses, have been tasked with developing transparent and effective rules for government approval by December 1.
The Defense Ministry is also strengthening accountability for evading military service to ensure the rules apply equally to everyone.
The government says the reforms are intended to curb abuse of the reservation system and help ensure that troops at the front can be rotated.
The Cabinet had previously considered reducing reservation quotas in key sectors, including a proposal to lower the defense industry limit to 85%. Industry representatives opposed the measure, and the government subsequently left the percentage limits for further review.
