The list of jobs on which the use of women’s labor is limited is planned to be canceled in Kazakhstan
A round table was held at the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan (hereinafter referred to as the MLSPP), which considered the issue of canceling the List of jobs where the use of women’s labor is limited. The event was attended by the First Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan Akmadi Sarbasov, the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan Elvira Azimova, representatives of state bodies, non-governmental organizations, social partners and others. During the round table, the issue of amending Articles 16 and 26 of the Labor Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, aimed at excluding the List of jobs, which restricts the use of women’s labor, was considered. This list contains 213 professions and types of work, where employment of women is limited due to the severity of work, harmful and (or) dangerous working conditions. Cancellation of the list will expand the employment opportunities for women by ensuring their access to all jobs and fulfill the obligations that Kazakhstan has undertaken within the framework of ratified international documents on non-discrimination. Also, in addition to the existing mechanisms for ensuring safe working conditions within the framework of the occupational risk management system and in order to ensure health protection, as well as protection of motherhood, it is proposed to consider a number of additional measures. Thus, the issue of including professions and types of work in which the use of women’s labor is prohibited in the List of industries, workshops, professions and positions, work in which gives the right to additional paid leave and reduced working hours, as well as increased wages (List contains 8940 blue-collar occupations and positions of managers and specialists). In addition, the “List of medical contraindications for concluding employment contracts in the field of heavy work, work with harmful (especially harmful) and (or) hazardous working conditions, in underground work” is planned to be expanded with additional medical contraindications, taking into account the physiological characteristics of the female body associated with childbearing function. In addition to general restrictions for the female sex, the document proposes to add restrictions on 9 different groups of diseases and pathologies. The measures taken together will contribute to the realization of the constitutional rights of women to freedom of labor, free choice of occupation and profession, and will also contribute to the expansion of women’s participation in the economy through the creation of equal access to the labor market, financial and other resources. As a result of the discussion, the round table participants supported the abolition of the List of Jobs, which restrict the use of women’s labor.