UNFPA Representative Ms. Nuzhat Ehsan participated in the roundtable «Social initiative: telecommuting as an effective mechanism to raise employment level among young parents» that took place in the Ukrainian information agency UKRINFORM today.

The event was opened by Minister of social policy of Ukraine Ms. Natalia Korolevska, who presented a new draft law to be initiated by the Ministry. The new legislative document aimed at increasing the employers’ incentives to hire mothers with infants as well as to provide the opportunities for parents on maternity and paternity leave to work out of home.

In her remarks, UNFPA Representative welcomed the Government initiative to advance the gender equality in the labor market of Ukraine and implement a new legislation that follows the best international practices in this sphere. Ms. Ehsan presented the results of the recent study conducted by UNFPA, ILO and the Ukrainian Centre for Social Reforms that indicated that gender stereotypes continue to persist in Ukrainian society resulting in gender based occupational segregation. “Studies show that even though women are often better qualified than men in Ukraine, on average a woman earns less than a man in an equal or comparable position”, said UNFPA Representative.

The participants of the roundtable agreed that flexible work arrangements for parents with small children not only have the potential to enhance opportunities for women in the workplace, bring financial and social benefits, but also have a much wider positive effect on increasing fertility, improving employment for other socially vulnerable groups and even relieve the city traffic.

The draft of the new law is expected to be finalized by the end of this month.

http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/anons_kruglogo_stolu_initsiativi_1870382