Terekhov proposes counting one year of work in frontline communities as two years of insurance service

Head of the Association of Frontline Cities and Communities (AFCC), Mayor of Kharkiv Ihor Terekhov, has launched an initiative to grant special status to specialists who ensure the vital functions of frontline communities under combat conditions. He announced this during a meeting with Kharkiv social workers, reports RBC-Ukraine. According to Terekhov, people who work daily under the constant threat of shelling and continue to provide basic services to the population deserve a distinct legal status and additional social guarantees.

One year of work for two years of service

The key proposal of the AFCC is to count one year of work in these territories as two years of insurance service. A corresponding bill, prepared in cooperation with people's deputies — members of the inter-factional union "Frontline Territories," has already been registered in the Verkhovna Rada. The initiative covers not only those currently working in frontline territories but also all specialists who have performed such work since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, including those who came on business trips or worked on a rotational basis, even if they have since left these areas.

Who the initiative affects

The initiative concerns a wide range of specialists upon whom the population's access to basic services directly depends: social workers, medical staff, teachers, energy sector employees, utility company staff, and other categories of personnel. Terekhov emphasized that despite constant shelling and security threats, these people remain at their workstations and continue to help residents. "People who continue to work in frontline territories deserve special status. This is a fair approach to those who work daily in dangerous conditions and ensure the viability of their communities. This is the essence of our bill," stated the Mayor of Kharkiv.

Increasing social standards: wages, pensions, VAT

In addition to special status for employees in frontline territories, the AFCC is putting forward a complex of proposals to increase basic social standards in the country. Specifically, the association proposes setting a minimum wage of at least 10,000 hryvnias, a minimum pension of 6,000 hryvnias, and a subsistence minimum of 7,600 hryvnias. Terekhov argued that it is practically impossible to survive on the current pension of 3,500 hryvnias with the constant rise in the prices of medicine and food. Furthermore, the association proposes reducing the VAT rate on basic food products to 5%, and on medicines from 7% to 5%. Priorities also include preserving the pharmacy network and expanding public access to the "Affordable Medicines" program.

Systemic solutions and funding

According to the head of the AFCC, strengthening social protection requires systemic solutions and proper funding from the state budget. Terekhov noted that the capabilities of individual communities are limited, so increasing social standards and supporting those working in wartime conditions must become a national priority. The Association of Frontline Cities and Communities, which unites more than 360 communities and cities from 12 regions of Ukraine, continues to advocate for these proposals in cooperation with the government and the Verkhovna Rada. Previously, as reported, Terekhov discussed industry needs and the proposals of frontline communities for the 2027 state budget with educators, including the redirection of 32 billion hryvnias toward education.