Ukrainian businesses violate gender equality legislation

According to specialists, it is most often small- and medium-scale businesses in Ukraine which break the law regarding equal opportunities for men and women. Yet neither women, nor men, are used to going to court in order to contest discrimination on the labour market.

In 70 percent of their job advertisements, businesses stipulate whether they are looking for a man or women.  As Halyna Fedkovych from the West Ukrainian Centre “Women’s Perspective” says, this alone is an infringement of gender equality legislation.

Women are usually discriminated against with regard to pay. For the same work, they receive a quarter less than men. At the job interview, a potential employer often asks personal questions which are prohibited by law. Women themselves most often tolerate these infringements. They simply don’t agree to go to court. In the case of sexual harassment, they usually just resign. In the best instance they seek help from a psychologist.  Ms Fedkovych pointed out that in businesses run by foreigners there are considerably less instances of sexual discrimination.