At the coal enterprise visited by Natalia Kalmykova, the first among the country’s industrial enterprises, a pilot project has been implemented to create an inclusive space on the mine’s surface: handrails have been installed, toilets and showers have been adapted, hazardous areas have been marked, and so on.
The company has now conducted an accessibility audit at all its mines, thermal power plants and machine-building plants. Recommendations have been drawn up regarding the necessary adaptations, and a phased implementation of the changes is being prepared.
The Company’s enterprises have also adopted a roadmap for the return of veterans to work: the ‘Defenders’ Assistant’ programme is up and running, psychological and legal support is provided to families, the extended ‘Veteran+’ medical insurance package is in place, training and retraining have been organised, and opportunities for sporting activities have been created.
In addition, the company’s specialists have developed a tool that is unique in Ukraine – an automated catalogue to match and select jobs for veterans with disabilities, taking into account medical classifications and working conditions; furthermore, in collaboration with a Ukrainian brand, work is ongoing to adapt existing protective clothing to the needs of veterans with limb amputations.
“It is important for us to see how solutions that help veterans return to professional life work in practice. Such examples show that business can be an important partner for the state in creating the conditions for the dignified return of defenders to civilian life. It is particularly important when a person has the opportunity to return to their team and continue their professional career. This is not a formal approach, but systematic work that respects the experience and needs of veterans,” said Natalia Kalmykova, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, during a visit to the mine.
According to her, the ministry is also working on systemic changes in the field of occupational health and safety and regulatory frameworks so that veterans can return to work taking into account their health, safety and professional capabilities.
“Our task as a state is to create conditions so that every veteran has the opportunity to return to an active life, including professional activity. That is why it is important for us to explore the practices of companies that implement inclusive solutions and create safe workplaces,” the minister added.
She says that the Company’s achievements, particularly in the medical field, represent the foundation upon which further systematic development begins.
“We are working systematically to ensure that every veteran has a safe workplace and a clear plan for returning to their profession. That is why we are implementing inclusive solutions at our facilities, launching job-matching tools that take into account veterans’ medical conditions and physical capabilities, and training and supporting people. This helps the team and makes the country more resilient,” said DTEK Energy CEO Oleksandr Fomenko.
Supporting veterans is a priority for the company, as since the start of the full-scale war, over 5,700 DTEK employees have stood up to defend Ukraine; more than a thousand have already completed their service, and some of them have returned to work. The Company’s mines in Dnipropetrovsk region are currently home to the largest community of veterans – 226 employees.