During the event will be made public an address to the bodies of power, employers and employees, approved in course of a sitting of the steering committee for preparation for and holding of the Labour Protection Day in Ukraine on April 28, 2011; will be covered priorities of collaboration of the Mine Supervision and Industrial Safety Service with the International Labour Organization to improve the safety and health condition on working places.  

      Press conference participants:

• Viktor Shaitan, first deputy head of the State Mine Supervision and Industrial Safety Service of Ukraine;
• Vasyl Kostrytsia, International Labour Organization national coordinator for Ukraine;
• Oleksii Miroshnychenko, Executive Vice President, Confederation of Employers of Ukraine, first deputy head of the joint representative body of the employers' side at the national level;
• Serhii Ukrayinets, deputy head of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine.

Progress in law for working women

Labour protection of women in the last half century has been marked by progress in law, an evolution in workplace practice and rising social expectations regarding the rights of working women during their child-bearing years. Yet the gains registered have so far failed to resolve the fundamental problem experienced by most, if not all, working women at some point in their professional lives: unequal treatment in employment due to their reproductive role. 

Such discrimination is felt ever more acutely as more women spend a greater portion of their lives in paid employment. Indeed, among the most remarkable changes to have occurred in the past 50 years has been the rapid rise in labour market participation by women. Their worldwide economic activity rates climbed from 54 per cent in 1950 to 66 per cent in 1990; they are projected to reach almost 70 per cent in the year 2010. In the more developed regions, the growth has been even more dramatic, starting from a lower initial rate of 47 per cent, but expected to climb to over 80 per cent by 2010.  

Two generations ago, women typically entered the workforce in the greatest numbers in their early twenties, with many leaving a few years later to bear and raise their children. In 1950, the worldwide economic activity rate for women rose to 59 per cent in the 20 to 24 age bracket, fell to 54 percent for women ten years older, remained relatively constant for 15 years and then fell rapidly after age 49. By 1990, worldwide economic activity rates had assumed a new pattern of high entry rates for women in their twenties, rising labour market participation throughout their thirties and forties, and declining employment from age 50 onwards. In other words, more women were spending their child-bearing years in paid employment.  

Figure 1. women's economic activitiy rates for the age group 24-50 years for 1950, 1970, 1990 and 2010 (world, more developed and less developed regions) 

Figure 2. economic activity rates by sex and age group for 1950, 1970, 1990 and 2010 (world) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Conclusions:

The employment of women has been covered in publications, held by the Library from the 19th century onwards. Some of the earliest include "Investigations into conditions of womens' work", published by the Women's Co-operative Guild, 1896, "The condition of women workers under the present industrial system" by I. Van Etten, published by the American Federation of Labor, 1891. 

How to improve labour protection of woman:

• Education

Equal access to education for women can be ensured. Special measures cann be taken to eliminate discrimination, universalize education, eradicate illiteracy, create a gender-sensitive educational system, increase enrolment and retention rates of girls and improve the quality of education to facilitate life-long learning as well as development of occupation/vocation/technical skills by women.

• Health

A holistic approach to women’s health which includes both nutrition and health services can be adopted and special attention could be given to the needs of women at all stages of the life cycle.

• Nutrition

In view of the high risk of malnutrition and disease that women face at all the stages focused attention would be paid to meeting the nutritional needs of women at all stages of the life cycle. Special efforts could be made to tackle the problem of macro and micro nutrient deficiencies especially amongst pregnant and lactating women as it leads to various diseases and disabilities. 
 

• Environment

Considering the impact of environmental factors on their livelihoods, women’s participation will be ensured in the conservation of the environment and control of environmental degradation.

• Science and Technology

Programmes can be strengthened to bring about a greater involvement of women in science and technology. These can include measures to motivate women to take up science and technology for higher education and also ensure that development projects with scientific and technical inputs involve women fully.

• Gender Sensitization

Training of personnel of executive, legislative and judicial wings of the State, with a special focus on policy and programme framers, implementation and development agencies, law enforcement machinery and the judiciary 
 

5. Used literature: 

1. http://www.ilo.org – official website of  International Labour  Organization

http://www.ilo.org/gender/Events/Campaign2008-2009/lang--en/WCMS_101091 /index.htm- Women and men migrant workers: Moving towards equal rights and opportunities

2.  http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/anot.cgi?nreg=2694-12 the law of Ukraine on labor protection

3. http://prassoon.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/protection-of-women-against-sexual-harassment-at-workplace/  Stand up for your rights website

4.  http://stopvaw.org/Ukraine.html The Stop Violence Against Women website (STOPVAW)