Businesses need a predictable booking mechanism – EBA

Ukrainian business needs a predictable and transparent booking mechanism. This is stated in the report of the European Business Association (EBA).

As noted, the EBA has recently received more frequent requests from businesses that cannot reconfirm their criticality status to extend employee reservations.

“Given the dynamics of business requests on this issue, the problem is becoming systemic. In fact, the decision to re-confirm the status of a critical enterprise is simply “hanging” in the relevant authorities,” the EBA said.

The business association also draws attention to unofficial media reports about the government’s decision to actually suspend the booking process until November 15. Such unpredictable steps significantly complicate the work of companies, although business understands the importance of mobilization processes.

The EBA emphasizes that businesses and investors need predictability in terms of staffing. Achieving a balance in the need for people in business and the defense forces is a difficult but important task for defense capability and economic stability.

As of mid-2024, 86% of EBA member companies surveyed have employees in the Armed Forces. In 52% of companies, the number of mobilized employees reaches 10% of the total number of persons liable for military service, in 28% – 10-20%, in 6% – 20-40%.

In 46% of companies, critical specialists, including managers, engineers, IT specialists, drivers, electricians, mechanics, and production line operators, are among the mobilized or volunteers.

“Improving the conditions for booking employees is the No. 1 request from businesses today, according to the results of the association’s surveys. Companies suffer not only from a shortage of qualified specialists, but also from the inability to predict work. It is about the risk of mobilizing critical specialists, for example, operators of specific equipment or specialists with unique knowledge, without which production/operational processes at the enterprise may be interrupted or stopped,” the EBA emphasizes.

The association points out that in conditions when economic booking has not yet been adopted, and the one carried out according to the criticality status is on hold, companies are effectively deprived of the possibility of personnel planning. The Association emphasizes that business needs a stable, predictable, transparent, and at the same time, efficient mechanism for booking critical employees.

The EBA hopes that the government and other public authorities will understand the importance of this request. The Association, for its part, remains open to dialogue on improving the mechanism and strives for a balanced approach.

In August of this year, the Federation of Employers of Ukraine called on the government to expand the list of companies that can book up to 100% of employees to companies located in the frontline areas.