Zelenskyy signs law on use of English in Ukraine
Pravda Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a law officially establishing English as a language of international communication in Ukraine.
Source: Verkhovna Radaʼs website (Ukrainian Parliament)
Details: English will now have the appropriate official status in Ukraine.
The document also defines the list of positions, the seekers of which are required to be fluent in English. In particular, proficiency in English is mandatory for:
- heads of local state administrations;
- military officers;
- prosecutors;
- tax authorities;
- customs officers;
- heads and teachers of higher educational institutions and scientific institutions;
- heads of healthcare institutions.
The draft law also regulates the specifics of using English in the work of state and local government bodies, emergency assistance units for the population, when crossing the state border, in education, culture, transport, healthcare and other areas.
In particular, civil servants who speak English will enjoy a 10-percent bonus to their salary.
In addition, budget support for cinemas to demonstrate English-language films will be provided. This means the government will financially support cinemas that show films in the original language.
Background: However, in the first versions of the law, it was planned that half of English-language films would be shown in the original language with Ukrainian subtitles starting from 2025. From 2027 and on, this regulation would concern all the English-language films screened in Ukrainian cinemas. This has caused outrage in society. The petition against it collected 25,000 signatures, so the parliament decided to exclude this paragraph from the law.
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