Assistance in the protection of labor rights

In May 2023, Mr. Anatoliy, an old-age pensioner who continues to work, turned to the lawyers of Caritas Kharkiv, a partner of DRC, for legal assistance. The employer had violated the man's labor rights, in particular, by failing to pay his severance pay and the total amount for four months. The debt to Anatoliy arose at the end of January 2022, but after February 24 of that year, the man's personal safety was a priority. Only later did he return to the problem of paying for the work he had done.

Thus, in 2023, the lawyers of Caritas Kharkiv together with Mr. Anatoliy collected the necessary evidence and drafted a statement of claim to the court to recover unpaid wages upon dismissal, average earnings during the delay in payment and non-pecuniary damage. In addition, the lawyers represented the man's interests in court, given his advanced age.

The case lasted almost a year. The defendant-employer denied the claim in full. Thus, the court partially satisfied the claims and recovered the funds from the debtor.

Mr. Anatoliy was impressed with the outcome of the trial and the legal assistance provided by Caritas Kharkiv, as over time he had ceased to believe that the problem could be resolved in his favor.

Caritas Kharkiv provides free legal aid to the war-affected population of the Kharkiv region in cooperation with the Danish Refugee Council in Ukraine (DRC), thanks to support from the European Union's civil protection and humanitarian aid.