Kiev, November 7, 2015
The concept of “sexual orientation” was not included in the list of prohibited forms of discrimination in labor relations, which is contained in the draft new Labor Code for the Ukraine, reports Pravlife.org with the reference to Irs.in.ua.
The document was passed at the session of the Upper Chamber of the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian Parliament) on November 5. When it came to the vote, the deputies did not uphold the amendment made by the deputy Irina Gerashchenko to prohibit discrimination with regard to sexual orientation in the workplace. According to her, this addition is vital if the Ukraine is to receive visa-free status in EU countries.
When the possibility of making the suggested amendment was examined, it received the support of only 117 deputies as opposed to the 226 necessary. A similar amendment may be proposed to the committee of the Upper Chamber when the bill is prepared for its second reading.
“A special status for sexual minorities is unacceptable. Today they are not discriminated against at all, and many countries that joined EU have not implemented these norms. These countries are Croatia, Hungary, Romania, the Baltic states,” noted the people’s deputy Pavel Unguryan during the discussion of the draft.
“I do not see any sense in shouting about the need of protection from discrimination where there has never been any discrimination. If this is not so, and the Ukraine has had such a system problem (in the sphere regulated by the Labor Code), then we are waiting for facts,” said Dmitry Tymchuk who voted against the amendment.
Earlier the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations expressed its position on this issue. Heads of 18 religious organizations signed a declaration, which reads: “We do not support the discrimination of individuals who call themselves homosexuals, but we strongly oppose the idea that the homosexual way of life and behavior should be interpreted as natural, normal and good for a society and an individual. We also reject the propaganda of homosexuality as a norm of sexual life and any encouragement by the state of the same-sex relations of its citizens”.
It is supposed that finalization of the draft new Labor Code for the Ukraine will take three weeks. After that the parliamentarians will consider the document in the second reading.
