Parliament allowed critically important defence companies to temporarily defer new employees from mobilisation without registration documents

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has passed a bill allowing critically important defence industry enterprises to temporarily defer new employees from mobilisation even if they lack properly issued registration documents. The bill in question is No. 13335, “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Regarding the Organisation of Labour Relations Under Martial Law.”

According to the document, employees of critically important defence enterprises may receive a 45-day deferral from mobilisation from the date of signing an employment contract, but not more than once a year for a particular individual. During this period, the employee must bring their military registration into order. Failure to comply will result in termination of employment, and the deferral will not be extended.

According to the Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry, the draft law will enable the rapid elimination of workforce shortages in production without delays caused by bureaucratic military registration procedures. It is described as a targeted instrument with minimal impact on the mobilisation resource – short-term, one-off in nature, and limited to a narrow group of enterprises.

It is also expected that the law will encourage Ukrainian specialists to return from abroad and bring out of the shadows those currently avoiding military registration.

As a reminder, a Defence City special legal regime has been established for defence industry enterprises in Ukraine, providing tax incentives and simplifying bureaucratic procedures.