The Ministry of Labor is preparing revolutionary changes to the list of professions prohibited for women. Starting next year, Russian women will be able to officially work as excavator and loader drivers, and will also occupy some positions in mines and the mining industry. The department announced a revision of the restrictions with reference to new labor safety standards.
Modern medical regulations and safety technologies have made previous prohibitions obsolete. Now officials propose to focus not on the gender of the employee, but on the real risks and conditions in a particular workplace. If safety is ensured and health is not compromised, then gender should not be an obstacle to a career.
During this year, the Ministry of Labor, together with trade unions and employers’ associations, will form an up-to-date list of professions that will be excluded from the blacklist. At the same time, they will conduct a large-scale audit of working conditions and additional research into the influence of harmful factors on the female body.
The changes won’t be limited to mining. Many specialties in transport and manufacturing industries are also in question. If the experiment is considered successful, list of professions allowed for women will only grow.
It’s interesting that the labor market has long been living its own life, breaking stereotypes faster than officials. Data from recruiting services show that men are increasingly entering professions that were previously considered purely feminine. Florists, manicurists and educators no longer surprise either clients or employers.
New rules will give women equal access to high-paying positions in the mining sector and on transport. For companies, this will expand the circle of search for qualified personnel, and for society it will be another step towards real, rather than declarative, equality.
Source: RIA Novosti
Image: DR
