Yanukovych orders reduction in staff of government agencies in regions

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has signed a decree on some issues linked to the optimization of the system of central and local executive government agencies, the presidential press service reported on Friday.

Under the decree, the Cabinet of Ministers should approve by October 15, 2011 the maximum number of employees working in the regional offices of ministries and agencies.

"Ministries and other central executive government agencies should analyze the implementation of regulations and orders by the president of Ukraine and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine concerning the optimization of the system of central executive government agencies and submit within two weeks the proposals on amending the provisions on central executive government agencies, which were approved by presidential decrees, in particular, bringing the number of deputy heads of central executive government agencies into line with the law of Ukraine on central executive government agencies and specifying, if necessary, the powers of these agencies, as well as put forward proposals to optimize the mechanism for the implementation of public policy at the local level, including the functioning of the regional offices of ministries and other central executive government agencies," reads the decree posted on the official Web site of the Ukrainian president.