How does the Business Ombudsman Council help businesses during the war?

During the war, the Business Ombudsman Council (BOC) has been actively supporting Ukrainian businesses, providing consultations and assistance to address challenges arising from military actions. The key areas of BOC activity during this period include:

1. Advisory Support

• Tax Issues: The BOC offers clarifications on changes in tax legislation during martial law, including transitioning to the simplified taxation system and reserving critically important employees.
• Import and Logistics: The Council assists businesses in expanding the list of critical import goods, providing guidance on submitting applications to include new product categories.

2. Business Support Hotline

• The BOC has launched a free legal support hotline for Ukrainian entrepreneurs, enabling them to receive consultations on urgent matters within 48 hours of their inquiry.

3. Collaboration with International Partners

• In partnership with the Polish SME Ombudsman, the BOC helps companies export Ukrainian products through Poland and overcome logistical barriers for importing goods into Ukraine.

4. Business Environment Surveys and Analysis

• The Council has introduced a survey titled "Ukraine at War: Business Environment Transformation and Investment Prospects" to gauge business sentiment and evaluate the current market situation.

5. Handling Business Complaints

Despite the war, the BOC continues to support Ukrainian businesses by addressing complaints against the actions or inactions of state bodies.

• Complaints Accepted by the BOC:
• Violations of legitimate business rights by state or local authorities, as well as state-owned enterprises.
• Complaints Not Accepted by the BOC:
• Issues arising from business relationships between private entrepreneurs.
• Cases under court or arbitration proceedings, or those with decisions already issued.
• Complaints submitted more than one year after the event in question.
• Complaints where the applicant has not exhausted at least one instance of administrative appeal available under the law.
• Complaint Review Procedure

1. Filing a Complaint: Entrepreneurs can submit complaints via the electronic system on the BOC website or through other available means.
2. Preliminary Assessment: Within 10 business days, the BOC conducts a preliminary evaluation, during which it may request additional documents.
3. Decision on Review: Based on the preliminary assessment, the BOC decides to review the complaint or reject it.
4. Complaint Review: The standard review period is 3 months but may be extended if necessary.

• Grounds for Terminating a Complaint Review
• The circumstances of the complaint are no longer relevant or have ceased to exist.
• The issue raised in the complaint has been resolved by other means.
• The complainant fails to cooperate adequately with the BOC during the review process.
• The matter is referred to a competent court or another authorized body to resolve the dispute.
• The BOC has exhausted all possibilities for resolving the issue out of court.