The influence of COVID-19 on labor and social relations: Rules of memory of Belarus and Ukraine

Abstract

The article presents a brief analysis of the situation in Belarus and Ukraine with the spread of coronavirus COVID-19 and measures taken by employers to optimise labour and social security relations during 2020. A brief overview of the decisions taken by Presidents, Parliaments, Governments and Ministry of Healthcare of both countries aimed at containment of coronavirus infection is presented. The latest changes in the Labour Code of Belarus and Labour Code of Ukraine, which regulated remote work since 2020, were touched upon. Attention is paid to the concept of self-isolation under the legislation of Belarus and Ukraine, restrictive measures that must be observed when self-isolating citizens in connection with COVID-19 infection, as well as level 1st and 2nd contacts. The authors analyse the new legislative provisions governing home and remote work, introduced into the labour legislation in Belarus in 2020, in Ukraine in 2020 and 2021. The article presents the specific experience of Belarus, where the presidential decree extended the rights of employers to temporarily transfer employees without their consent, as well as to change essential working conditions, and without making changes to the Labour Code. The authors give an assessment of such legislative innovations. The article deals with some issues of social support for employees who find themselves in a situation of downtime due to the suspension of the activities of organisations that are idle, as well as self-isolation. At the end of the article, some suggestions and recommendations are made for further adaptation of labour and social security legislation in Belarus and Ukraine in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic