In Ukraine, an important stage of the digital transformation of employment records is coming to an end. On June 10, the transition period concludes, during which employers and employees could submit scanned copies of paper workbooks to convert them into electronic format. However, despite the abundance of alarming messages on the internet, experts from the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) urge not to panic: missing this date will not lead to the loss of insurance seniority.
Myths and Reality: What the Pension Fund Says
The main fear among citizens, discussed on social media, boils down to the idea that after June 10, paper documents will supposedly lose their legal force, and accumulated seniority will "disappear." Representatives of the PFU categorically refute these rumors, calling them information manipulation. According to fund specialists, the legislation does not provide for any liability for failure to submit scanned copies before the end of the transition period.
The electronic workbook will indeed become the primary source of information on employment from June 11, but this does not mean that the digitization process will stop. Citizens who failed to submit documents on time will be able to do so later. The Pension Fund authorities will continue to accept and process scanned materials to form electronic records.
How Seniority is Confirmed: The Role of Paper Documents
Special attention in the fund's explanations is paid to work periods before January 1, 2004. It is precisely for confirming these years that originals of paper workbooks will be taken into account when appointing a pension, as before. This means that the physical document remains a critically important asset for pensioners, regardless of digital innovations.
Specialists advise citizens to keep their paper documents until they are fully digitized. Scanned copies can be submitted by both employers and employees themselves through the Pension Fund's web portal of electronic services.
What to Do If Documents Are Lost?
The situation regarding the loss of documents also has a solution. It was previously reported that Ukrainians who worked before 2004 had to digitize their workbooks for correct seniority accounting. However, in the event of the loss of the paper medium, seniority can be confirmed in other ways. The PFU notes that the use of witness testimony is permissible: it is sufficient to involve at least two eyewitnesses who worked with the applicant. This rule is particularly relevant for those who worked in temporarily occupied territories, where access to documents was difficult.
Thus, the end of the transition period is a change of priorities in the system's work, not a deadline after which citizens' rights are annulled. The process of forming electronic workbooks will continue, and the rights of workers and pensioners will remain protected by law.