The bill provides for the shortening of the working week for those employed in the public sector, to give them more time to devote to their family. Human Rights group: unreasonable and inappropriate argument.

Moscow (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Russian authorities intend to propose a reform of women's work, which includes the reduction of working hours on Fridays for civil servants. Vladimir Slepak, head of the Advisory Committee on Social Policy, speaking to the Moscow Times said that "today women — especially those with large families — need more time to provide a proper education and to address their domestic issues. All the more in times of crisis, with rising food prices, etc.,".

These words were echoed by Vladimir Ryazansky, head of the Commission of the Federal Council on social policies: " It goes without saying that for women, a tough working schedule is difficult. A flexible schedule would therefore be absolutely appropriate".

The proposal came following the approval in May last by the governor of the Kemerovo and Buryatia region for a reduction of working hours on Friday for women in the public sector. Slepak said he would now submit the proposal to the Russian parliament - the State Duma and the Federal Council - because "families need support."

Russia Today reports that in October the Commission of the Federal Council of the parliament discussed the proposal of the International Labour to shorten the working week to four days for all employees (not just women), without reducing wages. According to Andrey Isayev, a member of the Duma, the plan aims to improve morale in the workplace and to boost productivity, while Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets said: "At the moment we can not afford this. A four-day working week is still a dream for us. "

The bill to reduce women’s working hours been accused of being sexist by some feminist groups and has been many entrepreneurs have said it could harm the interests of employers. It is not the first time that such proposals have met with opposition in Russia.

 Two years ago Mikhail Degtyaryov, member of the Liberal Democratic Party had proposed an arrangement under which women could take two days of paid leave to facilitate their menstrual cycle, because during that period the majority of employees "are under psychological and physiological distress "and are less efficient. Anna Sobko, lawyer of Memorial (the longest running group for human rights in Russia) has defined the subject of Degtyartov "'this argument is obviously improper, unreasonable and nothing close to being serious".

• RUSSIA
• women
• human
• rights
• working
• week
• family