MOSCOW, October 30 (RAPSI) – The Labor Minister’s initiative to increase administratie fines for denial of employment to disabled citizens and employer-employee relationship violations is well-timed, Russia’s Rights Commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova has said while presenting her Protection  the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities report.

Currently, refusals to hire people with disabilities are punishable by fines from 5,000 to 10,000 rubles ($60 - 125).

According to the expert estimates, these provisions have not been changed for a long time and do not comply with the reality. As was proposed by the Labor Ministry, the penalties should be increased to protect labor rights of disabled persons willing to work, the Ombudsman’s report reads.

Moreover, Moskalkova proposes to render state assistance to employers hiring people with disabilities.

As of January 1, 2020, there are about 11.8 million people with disabilities in Russia, including 5.2 million men and 6.6 million women.