The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi signed the Law of Ukraine "On Service in Local Self-Government Bodies" (No. 3077-IX).

According to Nataliia Aliushyna, the Head of the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service, this is an important step in building a public, professional, politically impartial, and effective service in local self-government bodies. The NAUCS, as the main drafter of the Law, has made significant efforts to create conditions for openness and transparency in the preparation of the document. Many experts were involved in the preparation of the law. Each provision was discussed in detail, and the result is a solid document.

"Today is a really important day for the local self-government of Ukraine. After thorough work, the local self-government bodies received a new Law that will allow even more effective development of professional services in territorial communities. Also, the Law contains norms that will allow to harmonize the provisions of civil service and service in local self-government bodies", - Nataliia Aliushyna commented.

The law provides for the following changes:

• distinguish the status of local self-government employees and elected local self-government officials; 
• enshrine the principle of political impartiality of local self-government officials, while preserving their constitutional right to be elected and the guarantees provided by the electoral law; 
• organize open competitions for the positions of local self-government officials; 
• publish announcements about the competition and its results through the Unified Portal of Public Service Vacancies; 
• introduce an annual evaluation of the results of the official activities of local self-government employees;
• introduce a mechanism for professional and career development of local self-government officials; 
• improve the personnel reserve of local self-government officials; 
• establish the salary framework of local self-government employees;
• establish disciplinary and financial responsibility of local self-government employees.

The NAUCS is grateful to the Members of Parliament of Ukraine, representatives of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, central executive authorities, as well as all-Ukrainian associations of local self-government bodies, trade unions, academics, experts from international organizations and technical assistance projects for their hard work in drafting the Law, as well as for its advocacy and support. 

Important: the Law is expected to enter into force six months after its publication, but not earlier than six months after the termination or abolition of martial law in Ukraine.