LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO UNEMPLOYED WOMEN

The fact that women’s unemployment is one of the most acute problems is confirmed by numerous appeals from women to the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights. First of all, this is the issue of untimely payment of salaries, illegal dismissal from work, and discrimination by employers. There is also a low level of knowledge among people in filling out and maintaining various legal labor documentation, as a result of which there is an increase in violations of the rights of the unemployed.

According to Natalia Piddubna, the issue of legally correct registration of employment of women who have been on maternity leave for a long time after giving birth is acute. Of particular concern is the situation with the observance of additional guarantees regarding the employment of those women who belong to the category of socially vulnerable: those with children under six years of age, single mothers, those with disabled children, persons of pre-retirement age, as well as those who have been released after serving a sentence. A certain part of such women manages to find employment thanks to the reservation of jobs carried out by local authorities, however, there are quite a few cases when heads of enterprises, organizations and institutions refuse to employ them under any circumstances. The latter fully applies to both women and men.

“It is no secret that most employers openly discriminate against women when hiring. In particular, women over 40 often have difficulty finding a job. The employment of young women with young children is no less problematic,” notes the Center’s lawyer.

According to the director of the Chernihiv City Employment Center, Oleksandr Zevchenko, due to low legal culture and poor knowledge of labor legislation, the unemployed, primarily women, in most cases do not have the opportunity to independently understand our complex legislation and adequately respond to violations of their own rights. And they simply do not have enough money to seek legal advice. Therefore, the activities of the Legal Aid Center will help the unemployed who apply to the Chernihiv City Employment Center.

The Center for Free Legal Aid for Unemployed Women in Chernihiv operates at the address: 14000, Chernihiv, Gorkogo St. 57.

Hotline: (0462) 612-532.

The project is implemented with the support of the Democracy Fund of the US Embassy in Ukraine