Russia’s labor law affords a high level of protection to pregnant women but this protection does not occur in practice as many women quit their companies because of harassment. This phenomenon is now affecting women in positions of responsibility and is being singled out for attention by the associations. Unscrupulous company bosses bet on the fact that the women in question will be unlikely to follow up their cases in court out of fear for their reputation, ignorance as to their rights, or lack of time. Even though there are no overall statistics, the problem risks becoming more urgent in a country on the brink of recession.
Since 2013, the Center for Social-Labor Rights in Moscow has witnessed an increase in the number of illegal dismissals of pregnant women. “Employers attitudes could change if the legislation were a little more flexible. Guarantees are so strict that in practice they do not protect these women”, confirmed Sergeï Saurine – head of the NGO’s legal service. In Russia’s Labor Code, pregnant women are for example exempt from trial employment periods at the start of employment (article 70).
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