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Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Russian Federation (RATIFICATION: 1961)

Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention. Equality of opportunity and treatment of men and women. The Committee notes that the Government’s report does not contain any information in response to its previous comments on this issue. It notes however from the Government’s report of 2011 under the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), the persistence of the low participation of women in the labour market and the continuing significant occupational gender segregation. The Committee once again requests the Government to take concrete measures to promote equal opportunities of men and women in employment and occupation, including steps taken to ensure that men and women have equal access to training and employment in the broadest possible range of sectors and industries, as well as at all levels of responsibility. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the following:

• (i) the progress made in the adoption of the draft Federal Law on State Guarantees of Equal Rights and Freedoms and Equal Opportunities for Men and Women mentioned by the Government in its previous report;
• (ii) the work and outcome of the Special Task Force on gender equality set up in 2010 in the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development in relation to employment and occupation; and
• (iii) up-to-date statistics on the distribution of men and women respectively in the different sectors and industries, as well as levels of responsibility.

Discrimination based on sex. Sexual harassment. In the absence of information in the Government’s report on this point, the Committee recalls that section 133 of the Criminal Code on “compulsion to perform sexual actions” does not cover the full range of behaviour that constitutes sexual harassment in employment and occupation, in particular the creation of a hostile working environment, and is not sufficient to address effectively this issue. In order to ensure an effective protection of workers against sexual harassment, the Committee once again requests the Government to take steps to include in its legislation a clear definition and prohibition of both quid pro quo and hostile environment sexual harassment in employment and occupation. It also once again requests the Government to take steps to prevent and address sexual harassment in practice, and to raise awareness of employers, workers and their representatives of this issue.

Equality of opportunity and treatment of national and ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples. The Committee recalls the Government’s previous acknowledgement that there is a need for measures promoting non-discrimination in employment and occupation based on ethnic or national origin and to promote tolerance between the various ethnic groups in the country. The Committee notes that the Government’s report does not contain any information in this respect. The Committee notes that the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples noted, that indigenous communities express “a strong desire to participate much more actively in economic activities that are not considered traditional, such as oil development or other commercial and industrial enterprises, or development of tourist destinations around historic sites”. The Special Rapporteur expressed hope that “Government officials would develop a long-term vision of economic development in indigenous areas, and strive to support and encourage various models of economic exchange and enterprises, including support for and development of non-traditional economic activities” (A/HRC/27/52/Add.4, 3 September 2014, paragraphs 133–137). The Committee once again requests the Government to take specific measures to strengthen the enforcement of the Labour Code’s provision on non-discrimination, with particular emphasis on discrimination on racial or ethnic grounds and national origin, and to promote equality of opportunity and treatment of indigenous peoples in education, training, employment and occupation, including their right to engage without discrimination in their traditional occupations and livelihoods as well as in non-traditional activities. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the current position in the labour market of the different national and ethnic minorities.