Women in Russia have the capacity to play a positive role in the economic reform process, notwithstanding the tradition of concessions to women as the weaker half of the population. Women are the majority of the labor force and of the voting population. The female labor force is more highly educated than the male labor force; retraining women can take less time and be more cost−effective. Women are under−represented in declining heavy
industries, and are concentrated in sectors of potential growth − commerce and trade, banking, and social services.
Although it is not usually perceived this way, women have also acquired considerable management skills from running a household under increasing economic scarcity that can now be put to wider use. In many ways, women have a clear potential of becoming leading elements in reform and a pro−active stance on women in social policy reform is called for.
At the same time, the psychological climate − a philosophy of concessions and a resurgence of patriarchy in the relations between men and women − poses formidable barriers to the most efficient use of female labor and the full and equal participation of women in economic rehabilitation. Women have traditionally been
over−represented among poor and vulnerable groups and this trend has intensified with rapid inflation. Most of the unemployed are women, and women are also reported to be large numbers among those forced onto short−time work.
The near−exclusive dependence on women's domestic labor for maintaining the material well−being and comfort of the household, means that much of the cost of social protection of the young, the old and the disabled is borne by women in the context of the family, through a system of labor market concessions. The transformation to a market economy has made these labor market concessions incompatible with the efficient operation of the
4— Summary: A Policy Matrix 31
enterprise, and necessitates a re−examination of family policy in the interest of the free movement of labor.
Areas for action cover a wide span of activities, since women's productive and reproductive roles are. firmly entwined in Russia. Strategic choices have been identified in discussion with the government, in particular the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Social Protection and the Committee on the Family, Motherhood and
Childhood as well as by women themselves, through different non−governmental organizations. A Policy/Action Matrix summarizing these priority action points on the labor market, pensions, family policy and maternal and child health follows.break
POLICY ACTION MATRIX
OBJECTIVE MEANS ACTION
EMPLOYMENT
1. Promoting an effectively functioning labor market irrespective of gender.
Providing relevant labor market information to seekers and providers of employment, without reference to gender.
Ensuring due attention to gender differences in labor market behavior in action programs.
Opening all occupations to qualified persons, irrespective of gender.
Eliminating job vacancy announcements by sex.
Collection, reporting and analysis of employment and unemployment statistics by sex.
Development of reliable management information systems to determine the impact of different programs by sex.
Re−examination of labor legislation prohibiting women's work in certain fields.
Eliminating vocational and technical school entry barriers for girls.
2. Facilitating the absorption of the female labor force, which is generally well−educated and well−trained, in the
emerging market economy.
Pro−active employment and entrepreneurship programs for women.
Support to women's NGO's active in training end employment creation.
Out−reach programs for women in re−training and in small−scale
entrepreneurship, business incubators and credit programs.
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Developing high
productivity home−based work, piece work and part−time work.
Developing women's employment in agriculture and
agricultural processing.
Pilot NGO training programs for women in the World Bank's Social Protection and
Employment Services Project.
Assuring the labor rights and social insurance protection of part−time, home−based and piece rate workers.
3. Improving the labor mobility for women
Promoting the provision of necessary and appropriate child−care facilities to enhance the mobility of a highly educated labor force and eliminate imperfect markets in this area.
Incentives and selective government subsidy for the creation of quality private child−care facilities, with the additional benefits of creating employment opportunities for women.
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POLICY ACTION MATRIX
OBJECTIVE MEANS ACTION
EMPLOYMENT (cont.) 4. Increased awareness of women's employment issues in the economic
Education campaigns on the key role played by women in the economic
Mass media campaings.
Official communiques.
Support to Women's
4— Summary: A Policy Matrix 33
transformation process. rehabilitation in employment, social service, safety nets and other issues.
More women in decision−making positions.
Action orientation of research.
NGOs. Release of data by sex.
Support to research on women's employment.
UNEMPLOYMENT 1. Protection of unemployed, of whom 70 percent are women at a socially acceptably level of subsistence.
Streamlining the system of unemployment benefits.
Indexation of basic one level unemployment benefit.
PENSIONS
1. Social protection of retired population, two thirds of whom are women.
2. A financially viable pension fund.
Ensuring gender equity in retirement benefits.
Increasing gender equity in retirement age.
Limiting pension benefits to persons no longer in the work force.
Indexation of single level minimum pension for all retired persons.
Gradual introduction of uniform retirement age.
Reduction of benefits for working pensioners.
FAMILY POLICY 1. Social protection for families with young children.
Coordination of family policy.
Study on high−level body for coordination and implementation of family policy funded from the central budget.
2. Coordination of family and employment policy.
Ensuring a sound financial basis for family allowances.
Elimination of policy conflict between family and employment policies.
Indexation of family allowances.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH
1. Arrest decline in maternal and child health.
Reduction of maternal mortality, infant mortality, abortions per
Maternal, child health and contraception component in emergency health
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live birth. assistance.