Roman Chumak, head of the NGO Pro Justice, commented on the issue of gender equality in labor relations and the legal ban on the employment of women in heavy work and work with particularly harmful working conditions. The Labor Code of Ukraine (Labor Code), adopted in 1971, contained provisions inherited from Soviet legislation, including Article 174, which prohibited the employment of women in such work.

However, due to the European integration processes and the establishment of gender equality principles, this ban was lifted in October 2017. This was an important step towards equal employment opportunities for women and men. The only exception is currently underground work in mines, which is regulated by an international convention that Ukraine plans to withdraw from as part of labor law reforms.

Read more in the Ursa Media article.