A contract with Ukrzaliznytsia Board Chairman Wojciech Balczun is formally extended until June 9, 2019, the press service of the company has reported, referring to Director for Legal Services Andriy Omelchenko.

According to him, in line with the Ukrainian legislation, the board chairman of Ukrzaliznytsia is appointed and dismissed exclusively by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. Balczun was appointed board chairman under the order of the government. According to the legislation, the term of office of the board chairman of the company is three years.

"According to the law on the specifics of the formation of a public joint-stock company of railway transport of general use and the Ukrzaliznytsia's regulations, the chairman of the public joint-stock company is appointed and dismissed exclusively by the Cabinet of Ministers," Omelchenko said.

In addition, he said that according to the Labor Code of Ukraine, if after the expiration of the employment contract the employment relationship actually continues and neither of the parties requires its termination, the validity of this contract is considered to be extended for an indefinite period.

The rules of Article 39-1 of the Labor Code on the extension of the fixed-term contract for an indefinite period apply to cases where, after the termination of the contract, the employment relationship actually continues and each of the parties does not require its termination," Omelchenko said.

Ukrzaliznytsia said that the contract with the board chairman expired on June 5, 2017, but labor relations actually continue and none of the parties demanded its termination, and the contract with Balczun is formally considered extended until June 5, 2019.