As of 1 January 2021, employers are to be permitted to use female workers to perform certain jobs that are currently prohibited for women. The Ministry of Labour of Russia adopted Order of July 18, 2019 N 512н "On approval of the list of productions, work and positions with harmful and (or) hazardous working conditions, where the use of women’s labour is restricted" which is to replace the current Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of February 25, 2000 N 162, which defines The list of hard types of work and work with harmful or hazardous working conditions, where the use of female workers is prohibited.
The revision of the list has resulted in the list being reduced by more than four times: instead of 456 types of prohibited jobs, the new Order contains only 100 types of work that women are not allowed to perform.
The criteria for the review and updating of the list were factors that are dangerous for the reproductive health of women, affecting the health of the future generation and have long-term consequences.
The revised list removes restrictions that are no longer considered justified and that are deemed to restrict the right of women to fair working conditions.
For example, women are to be allowed to perform the following types of work:
- driver of heavy vehicles and agricultural machinery, such as a truck, tractor, dump truck, KamAZ, etc., with the exception of drivers of construction equipment (bulldozer, excavator, motor grader);
- a member of the ship's deck crew (boatswain, skipper, sailor), with the exception of work in the engine room of the ship;
- the driver of electric trains (electric trains), high-speed and high-speed trains (Lastochka, Sapsan, etc.);
- climbing work at an altitude of over 10 meters.
The list of restrictions does not apply to female labour in the pharmaceutical industry, medical organizations, research laboratories, organizations providing household services to the population.
It is also noted that when the employer creates safe working conditions where exposure to harmful or hazardous factors is almost excluded, the employer has the right to use female workers without restrictions.
Law: Order of July 18, 2019 N 512н "On approval of the list of productions, work and positions with harmful and (or) hazardous working conditions, where the use of women’s labour is restricted"