Duma discusses ratification of European Social Charter

On Tuesday, the State Duma, the Russian parliament's lower house, is due to debate the European Social Charter ratification. According to the Duma Committee on Labour and Social Policy, the participants in the hearings are going to discuss all issues related to the preparation of the charter's ratification, including economic, legal, constitutional and other aspects. In addition, the committee's officials pointed out, the hearings would promote better knowledge about the Charter in Russia.

The European Social Charter was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1961 and is dedicated to formulation and protection of social rights. It envisages guarantees of real implementation of such fundamental social rights as the right to labour, social and medical assistance, vocational training, just conditions of work, freedom of association, the right to bargain collectively, the rights of children and young persons, employed women, disabled and old persons, migrant workers and their families.

The Council of Europe prepared a new wording of the Charter in 1996. As life standards increased over the past 35 years, the number of social rights protected by the charter grew accordingly.

The Russian Federation signed the 1996 version of the European Social Charter on September 14th, 2000.