Two high-ranking Russian officials have called for women to work shorter days than men on Fridays to allow them more time to put their domestic affairs in order, a news report said Tuesday.
"It goes without saying that for women, a tough working schedule is difficult. A flexible schedule would therefore be absolutely appropriate," Vladimir Ryazansky, who heads the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy, told Russian News Service.
Ryazansky added in the report that his committee was ready to recommend cutting the working day for women on Fridays — an idea that was supported by Vladimir Slepak, who heads the advisory Committee on Social Policy, Labor Relations and Life Quality of Citizens of the Public Chamber, a state organization that oversees Russia's legislative bodies.
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"Today women ?€” especially those with large families ?€” need more time to provide a proper education and to address their domestic issues. All the more in times of crisis, with rising food prices etc," he was cited as saying by Russian News Service.
"If we make such a decision [to reduce the working day for women on Fridays] … then many problems will be solved," he added, noting that he personally supported the idea and would be willing to appear before the Public Chamber with such an initiative.
Slepak also said he would be willing to send the initiative for consideration by the upper and lower chambers of the Russian parliament ?€” the State Duma and the Federation Council, respectively ?€” because "Russian families need more support."
"Let this [support] be extra time, but [time] that will be dedicated to the family, to children," he was cited as saying by Russian News Service.
The initiative comes after lawmakers in the Kemerovo region and the Buryatia republic earlier this month introduced reduced working hours for female public sector workers on Fridays, the report said.
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