MOSCOW, September 20 (RAPSI) – The State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, adopted in a key second reading on Thursday a presidential bill on punishment for unjustified denial of employment and dismissal of persons nearing retirement age.

Under the draft law, preretirement age is understood to be an age-related period with a running time of up to 5 years prior to granting an insurance old-age pension to an individual.

The bill stipulates fines of up to 200,000 rubles (about $3,000) or in the wage amount for a period covering 18 months at the most, or community service for up to 360 hours for unjustified denial of employment and dismissal of such persons.

Amendments are proposed to the Criminal Code. Positive feedbacks on the bill have been provided by Russia’s government and Supreme Court.

Earlier in September, President Vladimir Putin submitted amendments to a pension reform bill to the lower house of Russian parliament. The amended bill is to be considered by the State Duma in the second reading.

The President issued a set of suggestions on the pension system change on August 29.  Putin proposed to lower the women’s retirement age to 60 years. Morever, he made several proposals aimed to strengthen guarantees for persons nearing retirement age, in particular to protect them from discrimination and dismissal without a valid reason.

On July 19, the State Duma passed the pension system bill in the first reading. Initially, the document, which was suggested in mid-June by the government, provided a gradual increase in the retirement age of up to 65 years for men and up to 63 years for women.