Equal contribution: women allowed to drive excavators and loaders
The list of industries, jobs and positions with harmful or dangerous working conditions in which female labor is permitted has been expanded. The corresponding order of the Ministry of Labor came into force on February 17. Now women will be able to operate excavators and loaders. Restrictions are being removed to overcome staff shortages. At the first stages, however, new female employees may face problems in professional adaptation - there is a risk of difficulties when trying to fit into a male team, experts warn. Reproductive health issues are also of concern. Whether the new professions will turn out to be dangerous for women - in the material of "Izvestiya".
Expansion of boundaries
The Ministry of Labor has adjusted the list of industries, jobs and positions with harmful or hazardous working conditions, in which the work of women is limited. The corresponding order came into force on February 17.
The document allows women to work as operators of excavators and loading vehicles. The list also excluded the management of self-propelled machines at open-pit mining operations, the surface of existing mines under construction, open-pit mines and mines, works on enrichment, sintering and briquetting.
On the contrary, the duties performed by a shipwright (such specialists cut tunnels under the icy bottoms of ships to allow for repairs) have been added to the list.
The Ministry of Labor prepared an order amending the list of works on December 25. The proposal itself was announced in the ministry back in the fall. The ministry noted that the development of technologies allowed to expand the list of authorized professions for women.
"The introduction of technology, improvement of production processes and organization of labor exclude harmful effects on the female body when driving self-propelled machines, as well as in some other types of activities. Taking this into account, it is proposed to exclude these positions from the list of professions in which women's labor is prohibited," explained Alexei Vovchenko, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation.
The list of professions prohibited for women has been rapidly shrinking in recent years. On January 1, 2021, the list was reduced from 456 types of work to 100. As a result, women were given the opportunity to work as drivers of heavy-duty vehicles and agricultural special equipment, car repair mechanics, to be bosuns and skippers on a ship, as well as to perform work at a height of more than 10 meters, to hold the position of a driver of electric trains, high-speed trains and subway trains.
Equalization of rights
At one time, the list of prohibited professions for women was formed taking into account the physical load and risks associated with specific types of work, recalls Anna Anisimova, economist, director of the service "Merchant CRM". However, modern excavators and loading machines are equipped with automation systems, hydraulic amplifiers and ergonomic workplaces, which reduces the requirements for physical strength and makes such labor accessible to women.
Changes in the list of professions are necessary to adapt to modern working conditions, agrees Maria Koleda, head of the information department of the independent trade union New Labor.
- Improved technology, automation and better working conditions allow women to successfully perform functions that were previously considered exclusively male. This not only expands employment opportunities, but also helps to cope with the shortage of qualified personnel, which is observed in a number of industries," the expert notes.
In the second quarter of 2024, for example, Russia lacked 2.7 million people to fill all vacancies, says Izvestia's interlocutor, referring to data from the Institute for Statistical Research and Knowledge Economy of the National Research University Higher School of Economics. Attracting women to new spheres, however, is unlikely to solve the personnel problem, warns lawyer Igor Kim, but it will expand employment opportunities for them.
Modern society is on the way to eliminating female discrimination, which is also connected with the expansion of the list of authorized professions, believes Svetlana Guskova, Associate Professor of the Department of Humanities and Natural Sciences at the Institute of International Economic Relations.
- Some women themselves want to do something interesting and attractive, although dangerous, to occupy positions that were previously closed to their employment. They turn to the Ministry of Labor with complaints about their inability to find employment in their specialty. The new norms make such employment a matter of women's own choice," the expert explains.
In addition, from the legal point of view, the adjustment of the list of prohibited professions is in line with the principles of equal opportunities enshrined in the Labor Code and international agreements on workers' rights, Kim adds.
Solvable difficulties
Historical experience, however, shows that working on heavy machinery can have a negative impact on women's bodies, particularly on the reproductive system, due to the constant vibrations and physical strain, warns Igor Kim.
- In this case, it is important not just to lift bans, but to weigh the pros and cons. If a woman chooses such a profession, the state should encourage employers to provide safe working conditions and control over compliance with health protection of employees, - says the lawyer.
It is also important to take into account that women who decide to master the authorized professions, may face certain difficulties, warns Anna Anisimova.
- Firstly, there is still the factor of professional adaptation: in some areas, where traditionally dominated by men, women may experience difficulties with acceptance in the team. Secondly, it is necessary to take into account the sanitary and living conditions at workplaces," the expert points out.
Such barriers, however, are temporary, as evidenced by experience in other industries, she says. For example, women are successfully working as public transportation drivers, airline pilots and dispatchers in logistics companies.
- These professions were also previously considered male-dominated, but over time women have gained stable positions in them. Now they can even do high-risk jobs, such as serving in the police force, working at heights in the construction industry, participating in emergency response or driving high-speed trains," Anisimova said.
And in general, workplace problems can arise for all employees, regardless of their gender, recalls Maria Koleda. Women can face various difficulties in the process of work to the same extent as men.
- Therefore, it is important to create a working environment that minimizes risks and ensures safety. We urge employers to pay special attention to training and preparing women for new professions in order to reduce possible injuries," states the expert.
We should not forget that many traditionally "female" specialties may be associated with risks, emphasizes Izvestia's interlocutor. In this regard, it is important to rethink the approach to the classification of hazardous professions, taking into account not only the physical load, but also potential health risks, Koleda urges.
In any case, the opening of new career opportunities for women in such areas as excavator and loader management is an important step towards equality in the labor market, the union representative is convinced. This will not only improve the economic situation in the country, but also promote social justice.
The abolition of restrictions is a logical continuation of the trend to expand professional opportunities for women, Anisimova believes.
- Legislation should take into account not only historical norms, but also objective changes in technology and the social structure of society. Readiness for such changes will allow the labor market to respond more flexibly to the demands of the economy, and women will be able to choose a profession based on their own competencies and interests, rather than outdated prohibitions," summarizes the interviewee of Izvestia.
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