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New rules for visa-free travel, land reform, transition to the Ukrainian language. Correspondent.net tells what changes await Ukrainians in the new year.
New visa-free rules
Starting in 2021, Ukrainians will need to obtain a preliminary travel permit by submitting an online application before traveling to EU countries.
The issuance of the travel authorization will take several minutes in the absence of comments from the EU law enforcement authorities or elements that require further study.
However, for each request, the tourist must pay a commission of seven euros. At the same time, the authorization will be valid for three years or until the expiration of the travel document registered at the time of application.
Such a procedure will allow the EU to identify in advance individuals who may pose a threat to migration or security, and will significantly increase the security of the bloc’s external borders.
Furthermore, the system will significantly reduce the number of denials of entry to the EU directly at border crossings.
Strong quarantine in Ukraine
From January 8 to January 24, the government planned to tighten the quarantine in Ukraine, the so-called blockade.
During this period, the following restrictions will apply:
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prohibition of the operation of cafes, restaurants, bars (except for take away delivery)
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prohibition of the operation of non-food stores, non-food markets, cinemas, gyms, shopping and entertainment centers (the shopping and entertainment center may sell food, drugs, veterinary drugs, personal hygiene products and household chemicals)
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all educational institutions will be sent on vacation except kindergartens
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ban all public events
At the same time, with the orange restrictions imposed, public transport will continue to function.
Grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, gas stations, post offices, hotels, beauty salons and hairdressers will operate (by appointment).
Mandatory Ukrainian language
On January 16, article 30 of the Law will enter into force to guarantee the functioning of the Ukrainian language as a state language, which will guarantee the final transition of the service sector to the state language. For violation of the new rule, a fine is provided. More on this in the material Transition to Ukrainian: what it means.
Salary and living wage
Since January 1, the minimum wage has increased to 6,000 hryvnia per month. The last time the minimum wage was raised on September 1, up to five thousand hryvnia per month.
As of December 1, 2021, it is planned to increase it to 6.5 thousand hryvnia per month. This increase was expected from July 1, but the government postponed it, explaining that a strong increase in the minimum wage could affect inflation.
The cost of living in January 2021 will remain the same as in December 2020. The first increase of the new year is scheduled for July 1.
So, the cost of living per person per month from January 1, 2021 will be UAH 2189, from July 1 – UAH 2294, from December 1 – UAH 2393.
The subsistence minimum for people without disabilities: from January 1 to 2270 hryvnia, from July 1 to 2379 hryvnia, from December 1 to 2481 hryvnia.
For people who have lost the ability to work (minimum pension): from January 1 to 1769 hryvnia, from July 1 to 1854 hryvnia, from December 1 to 1934 hryvnia.
Since January 1 in Ukraine, there are separate living wages for determining the official salaries of judges (2102 hryvnia), employees of state bodies, whose salaries are regulated by special laws (2102 hryvnia) and the prosecutor of the prosecutor’s office of district (1.6 thousand hryvnia). They will not change throughout the year.
New pension calculation
Since January 1, the amount of the minimum pension for some of the non-working pensioners has also increased, according to the Ukrainian Pension Fund.
The amount of the minimum pension increased to 2,400 UAH.
This took place in connection with the increase in the minimum wage from 5000 to 6000 UAH.
We are talking about people who have turned 65, if the men are 35 years old, the women have 30 years of insurance experience. Your minimum old-age pension will be 40% of the minimum wage.
Pensioners who work, after being fired from work or cessation of said activities, the pension is recalculated taking into account the minimum wage determined on the date of dismissal or cessation of said activities.
Increase in utility rates
In 2021, Ukrainians will see a noticeable increase in the cost of various public services, with most of them rising in January.
Gas prices for consumers
In January, gas prices for domestic consumers will increase in Ukraine. Recall that there is a gas market in Ukraine – you can choose a gas supplier and pay for fuel and its supply separately.
Gas AP offers the lowest prices: 6.99 hryvnia per cubic meter. The highest price in January was offered by the Lvovenergosbyt company – 10.8 UAH per cubic meter.
Gas delivery rates
The cost of this service is set by the National Commission, which carries out state regulation in the fields of energy and public services (NEURCU). Prices vary by region.
The rates for natural gas distribution services for 2021 have already been approved and have increased by an average of 40 percent.
The highest tariffs are set for Gazovik and Spektrgaz (34 hryvnia per cubic meter), which serve consumers in the Vinnitsa and Lugansk regions. The lowest rates are in Kharkivgorgaz (0.45 hryvnia per cubic meter).
Cold water rates
Ukrainian consumers will also have to pay more for cold water. On average, starting in January, rates will increase by 10 to 15 percent. The growth of this indicator is associated with an increase in electricity transmission rates.
Heating rates
Heating tariffs from January 1, 2021 will increase across Ukraine, from 5.5 percent to almost 50 percent, depending on the region.
In late December 2020, NEURC revised the rates for heat production for the population and increased them for 23 Ukrainian CHPPs.
After the increase, the weighted average tariff for the supply of heat to the population of 23 companies amounted to 1,121.71 UAH / Gcal.
Education in schools, universities, kindergartens
After the New Year holidays, schools must continue their holidays or introduce distance education. Universities cannot attend either; students will take the session remotely. Kindergartens are supposed to work, but some restrictions will apply.
More on this in the Lockdown-2021 material: how schools, universities, kindergartens work.
Land market
On July 1, 2021, the land market opening law comes into force, which many have been waiting for almost twenty years. However, opinions on its suitability were divided and the controversy continues to this day.
Let us remember that before the law comes into force, Ukraine has a moratorium on the sale of agricultural land, which means the prohibition of any alienation of such land.
However, the use of agricultural land on the terms of a long-term lease, emphyteusis, testament, pledge, order, change in the intended purpose of the site, legal alienation due to debts and the like is not prohibited.
What to expect after the opening of the land market?
Subjects who may acquire ownership of agricultural land.
The law establishes that the following may acquire ownership of agricultural parcels:
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citizens of Ukraine
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legal entities of Ukraine, whose participants (shareholders, members) are only citizens of Ukraine and / or the state and / or territorial communities
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territorial communities
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the state
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bank (only in the order of foreclosure on parcels of land as pledged. Banks must dispose of such parcels of land in land auctions within two years from the date of acquisition of the property)
New health regulations for schools
The Ministry of Health has developed a new sanitary regulation to improve the health of children, which comes into force since the beginning of the year.
The document provides the following:
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students living at a distance of more than two kilometers from the school receive transportation for delivery
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all school employees are required to undergo mandatory preventive examinations (if the exam period is violated, the employee cannot work)
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it is prohibited to rent school premises other than for educational needs
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Requirements established for the improvement of the territory of the schools and people who must monitor its implementation.
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The use of a wired or wireless Internet connection is permitted in schools (in the case of using the latter, Wi-Fi routers must be placed at a height of at least 2 meters and turned off during extracurricular hours)
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the diagonal of school computers must be at least 15 inches, laptop – at least 14 inches (the device must have a keyboard and mouse)
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It is proposed to transplant students to other ranks at least twice a year (for the prevention of postural, visual and hearing disorders).
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It is recommended that students who often suffer from colds, rheumatism, sore throat sit against the inner wall of the classroom.
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the bathroom must be on the school premises
Furthermore, the regulations detail new approaches to restoration: restoration is allowed, but with a number of requirements. In particular, there is a limitation on the content of salt, sugar and fat.
A list has also been defined of what is prohibited to sell in schools (chips, cold cuts, cold cuts, popcorn, some sweets, etc.). There is a separate list of products that should be included in the daily diet of schoolchildren (cereals, vegetables, fruits, dairy products).
If a child needs a special diet, with a medical certificate, a separate meal should be arranged for him.
New sanitary standards for schools
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