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Several big enterprises in Kharkiv have faced a threat to their operation due to mobilization. Heads of the enterprises tackled the problem during a panel discussion at the enterprises on mobilization of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Representatives of the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ULIE) regional office and the biggest enterprises in Kharkiv region – PrJSC Philip Morris Ukraine, PJSC Svet Shakhtyora, state-run Malyshev Plant, PJSC Kharkiv Tractor Plant, State Scientific Production Enterprise Kommunar Corporation, State Enterprise Kharkiv Machinery Plant FED, and many other companies participated in the discussion. The government was represented by Serhiy Storozhenko, an advisor to the head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration, Deputy Kharkiv Military Commissar Andriy Semenovych, and representatives of the military prosecutor's office, trade unions, and the State Regulatory Service of Ukraine.
The participants stressed that it is important to protect national interests, for the sake of which mobilization is conducted, and noted that their enterprises also work for national interests, especially under the conditions of a difficult economic situation, the necessity of boosting the competitiveness of domestic production and developing the domestic market to ensure the stable operation of the Ukrainian economy.
The heads of companies also stressed the necessity of preserving the enterprises' labor potential as long as mobilization notices are sent regardless of the enterprises' needs for qualified employees and relevant explanatory work. For instance, PrJSC Philip Morris Ukraine received 300 notices in one go and as a result it is on the verge of stoppage.
Head of the ULIE office in Kharkiv region, Oleh Ilyutko, said the government should not intimidate people and demand the heads of enterprises to carry out extrinsic tasks.
The representative of Kharkiv Regional State Administration said that mobilization was necessary, however, he agreed that an open dialogue should be held and ways to protect the region's economic potential should be found. Thus, it was decided to propose that Kharkiv Regional State Administration should create a trilateral ad hoc group at the regional state administration as soon as possible to tackle important issues that emerge at the region's industrial enterprises during partial mobilization. The group should include officials from the regional state administration, representatives of industrial enterprises, businesses, business associations of Kharkiv region, representatives of Kharkiv's Regional Military Commissariat, and the military prosecutor's office. The heads of enterprises were asked to submit to this group the lists of employees that need to be reserved during partial mobilization. It was also decided to draw up and send letters to the Ukrainian president, the prime minister, and the Verkhovna Rada's chairman with a request to consider the possible improvement of Ukrainian legislation on mobilization and reservation of employees subject to military service, and entitle the head of the Association of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in Kharkiv region and the regional office of the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Oleh Ilyutko, to sign the letters on behalf of those present at the panel discussion.
The ULIE leadership also responded to this initiative. They expressed support for the intentions of their colleagues in Kharkiv to balance national and economic interests regarding mobilization as this problem is becoming nationwide.