Problematic issues of the legal regulation of local self-government officials’ remuneration

Abstract

The article draws attention to the fact that the current legislation on local self-government and service in local self-government bodies contains a number of problematic issues in terms of regulation of remuneration of officials. It is emphasized that this significantly reduces the effectiveness and reliability of material and financial guarantees for persons performing the tasks and functions of local self-government in positions in its bodies. Due to the low level of regulatory and legal control, the institution of salary does not fully perform the functions it is supposed to perform. The article examines the essential content and role of wages in a modern democratic, legal state, which in its functioning and development relies on the tools and levers of the market economy, as well as civil society institutions. The author presents scientific positions on the content of the concept and functional purpose of wages, as well as its characteristic properties as a legal category. The author analyses the opinions and proposals for eliminating the shortcomings of the organisational and legal framework for material and financial remuneration of public servants of local self-government bodies. It is emphasised that Ukraine has the Law “On Service in Local Self-Government Bodies”, which is intended to change the approaches to the regulation of remuneration of municipal officials significantly, but it has not entered into force and may remain in this state for a long time. In addition, it should be noted that this legal act also has certain gaps in terms of regulating the remuneration of the public servants under study. Taking into account the positions of researchers, as well as the upcoming update of the legislation on service in local self-government bodies, some steps are proposed to improve and develop remuneration of local self-government officials. The author emphasises the need to revise the scheme of official salaries and improve approaches to bonuses for local self-government officials. Emphasis is placed on the importance of improving the effectiveness of mechanisms and tools for stimulating and encouraging the work and service activities of municipal officials.

Keywords

• local self-government
• local self-government bodies
• local self-government official
• salary
• incentives.