Bribes for permits and “training”: a large-scale corruption scheme uncovered in the State Labor Service administration – SBI

Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR), with the assistance of the National Police, have uncovered a bribery scheme in the field of labor protection organized by the head of the South-Western Interregional Office of the State Labor Service (Gostrud).

This was reported by the DBR press center.

The official involved the head of the inspection activities department, his deputy, and the head of a private company responsible for training entrepreneurs in the scheme.

Officials of the Gostrud office, which operates in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, and Chernivtsi regions, were demanding money for services that are supposed to be free — labor safety training — and were issuing certificates to workers without them actually taking the courses. Separately, they charged for the smooth registration of declarations/permits for high-risk work, which by law are issued free of charge within five days.

To do this, they used specifically designated expert organizations. If an entrepreneur turned to the “wrong” organization, officials artificially delayed consideration of the documents for months. Cooperation with the “right” firm, however, guaranteed the issuance of the permit within a week.

The investigation also found that the suspects fabricated inspections that, under martial law, should not have been carried out at all. Entrepreneurs were told they had been “included in the plan” and were then asked to pay money in exchange for these fictitious inspections not being conducted — creating yet another channel for systematic extortion.

“In addition, the officials regularly received money for concealing workplace accidents, undeclared workers, and other violations. Entrepreneurs were given a choice: an official fine that could reach millions of hryvnias, or to ‘solve the issue’ for 10,000–100,000 UAH,” the statement says.

According to the investigation, during 2025 the officials received hundreds of thousands of hryvnias in unlawful benefits from entrepreneurs. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing, so the total amount of bribes may reach several million hryvnias.

The head of the office, his two subordinates, and the head of the private company have been notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — receiving unlawful benefit by an official combined with extortion — and under Part 3 of Article 369 — offering or providing unlawful benefit.

The penalties under these articles include up to 10 years’ imprisonment, confiscation of property, and a ban on holding certain positions.

As part of the criminal proceedings, law enforcement conducted 40 searches in three regions — in the homes and vehicles of the suspects, at enterprises, and in Gostrud offices. Documents, funds, and other materials that may serve as physical evidence in the case were seized.

All suspects have been placed in custody by court decision, with the possibility of bail.