Labour minister
MaryAnn Mihychuk partnered with a top Ukrainian politician this week, aiming to achieve deeper collaboration with the country when it comes to jobs and safety.
Mihychuk met with Andriy Reva – Ukraine’s minister of social policy – on her first official mission to the Eastern European state where the pair discussed employment issues in relation to the progressive labour chapter in the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA).
Signed in July this year, the agreement is designed to improve working conditions in partner countries and promote respect for internationally-recognized labour rights.
Mihychuk also sat down with the International Labour Organization to develop a work plan on a multilateral project for training to create safer working conditions in Ukraine's extractive sector.
"As a proud Ukrainian-Canadian and as Labour Minister, I am very pleased to be strengthening ties with Ukraine, and helping to create better, safer jobs for Ukrainian workers, particularly in the mineral extractive sector,” she said.
“This mission has helped us both move forward to meet our shared labour commitments under the new Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, our first progressive trade agreement."
Minister Mihychuk also convened a roundtable on labour challenges and opportunities, hearing from academics, non-governmental organizations and regional and international organizations.
She also met with the Ukrainian Minister of Health, Dr. Ulana Suprun, on advancement of occupational health and safety standards.
