The Federation Council on Wednesday approved legislation preventing employers from dismissing fathers or other legal guardians who are bringing up children on their own.
The new legislation specifies that a man who is raising a child without the help of a mother or other legal guardian and is the sole breadwinner for a disabled child under 18, or for a family of three or more young children, cannot be dismissed by his employer.
"The time has come to protect not only mothers, but fathers as well," said Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of the country's upper house, according to Interfax.
A similar law concerning women already exists in the Labor Code prohibiting the dismissal of pregnant women, women with young or disabled children and single mothers.
The council said that it would monitor the enforcement of the new legislation and that it would refine it further if necessary.
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