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NEWS

EU launches gender equality competition for Ukrainian business

01-07-2011

 

A contest for companies with the best equal opportunities practices has been opened under an EU-funded project in Ukraine. The competition was launched on 30 June by representative of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, Jose Roman Leon Lora and First Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, Vasyl Nadraga.
 
According to a press release from the EU Delegation in Ukraine, companies can register to participate on-line at www.rivnist.in.ua until 30 September 2011. The major prize for the winners will be a yearlong membership in the European Business Association and tailor-made business trainings.
 
“A policy of equal opportunities for men and women helps employees to combine family and working obligations, enables their professional development, and protects them against discrimination and sexual harassment. Whatever the forms of support are, they demonstrate that employees are the most important link for their companies,” declared Nadraga.
 
 “We want to show that the success of a business depends on the balance of its team,” said Rick Flint, the team leader of the EU Project ‘Women and children’s rights in Ukraine – Communication component’. “We hope that in 2011 there will be more businesses taking part in the contest launched today. Both women and men want to have an opportunity to spend their free time with their children and realise their full potential in their professional life. This is their legal right. The principle of gender equality can help them to make this come true.”
 
The press release quoted a recent survey of the international employment portal www.hh.ua, which found that 86% of top managers in Ukrainian companies are men and 40% of employers recognise that men have a better chance to get a management position. Around half the employers provide no special conditions for combining working and family obligations, and practices such as flexible working hours and distance work exist in less than 20% of companies.
 
At the same time, there are some positive trends in the labour market. In 2010, more than 90 leading businesses took part in the competition demonstrating best practices of equality for their employees. (ENPI Info Centre)
 
 
Read more
 
Press release
 
ENPI Info Centre report - EU helps to promote gender equality at work in Ukraine (29-06-2011)
 
ENPI Info Centre press pack - Strengthening the role of women
 
Delegation of the EU to Ukraine
 
ENPI Info Centre webpage - Ukraine