What kind of work is forbidden to involve women in Belarus
According to the norms of the constitutional law of the Republic of Belarus, every citizen has the right to work, regardless of gender. At the same time, women, due to the peculiarities of their body and social role, are provided with additional benefits and guarantees in labor regulation.
The Labor Code of the Republic of Belarus contains a separate chapter on the regulation of women’s labor. Thus, the legislator establishes a ban on the involvement of women:
– to hard work;
– to work with harmful and (or) dangerous working conditions;
– work related to the lifting of weights in excess of the maximum norm.
The maximum norm of weights is established by resolutions of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus. So, the employer is forbidden to involve women in such work, which requires the constant lifting of loads weighing more than 10 kg.
Prohibition on engaging pregnant women to work at night
The employer has no right to use the work of pregnant women at night, to involve them in overtime work, work on weekends and holidays.
The legislator also prohibits sending pregnant women on business trips, and women who have children under the age of 3 can be sent on business trips only with their written consent.
One paid day off for women
An employer has the right to provide a woman who is raising a disabled child under the age of 18 with one paid day off per month.
If a woman is raising three or more children under the age of sixteen, then she is given one day off work per week with pay equal to the average daily wage.
Feeding breaks during the working day
Women who have children under the age of one and a half years are provided with breaks for feeding the child during the working day.
These breaks are provided regardless of the break for rest and meals, every three hours, lasting at least 30 minutes. If there are two or more children, the duration of the break for feeding should not be less than one hour.
At the request of a woman, breaks for feeding can be transferred to the beginning or end of the working day, or combined with a break for rest and meals. Nursing breaks are paid in the same way as working hours.
Guarantees for pregnant women in Belarus
The Labor Code prohibits an employer from:
– refuse to conclude an employment contract for pregnant women and women with children under three years of age for these reasons;
– reduce the wages of such women.
If the employer refuses to conclude an employment contract with such a woman, he is obliged to send a written response indicating the reasons for the refusal within three days.
The legislator also prohibits the dismissal of pregnant women in connection with the reduction of staff and the number of employees.
Establishment of feeding rooms and nurseries in enterprises
On its own initiative, the employer, who employs predominantly women, has the right to create children’s rooms (for feeding), as well as nurseries and rooms for the personal hygiene of women directly at work.
Employers have the right to create special units for the labor of women, as well as transfer them to lighter work as prescribed by a doctor.
Thus, in order to support motherhood and childhood, and also taking into account the characteristics of the female body, the legislation of Belarus provides for a number of benefits and guarantees for women in the world of work, especially pregnant women and women raising small children.
