Issues of Gender Equality in the Workplace: The Case Study of Kazakhstan

Abstract

Family circumstances and gender equality are the factors which influence the formation of labour legislation and state policy in the sphere of wage labour. That is why this research analyses the issues of gender equality in workplace relations. The study uses unity and a differentiation method of wage labour employment regulation. This method allowed us to determine the specifics of workplace relations, which involve women and people with family responsibilities. It was established that the optimal legal regulation of women's labour and labour of people with family responsibilities must be directed at achieving gender equality in the workplace and creating the conditions under which women and other people would be able to combine work and family responsibilities. The creation of a supportive environment for workplace relations of the specified categories of workers must be implemented through both internal and global regulations. The activities on both levels are mutually reinforcing in nature. The article, having analysed the Labour Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan and international labour standards, submits suggestions about improvement of labour laws, draws conclusions about the necessity of legal protection for women and people with family responsibilities as well as the elimination of discriminating factors in relations regulated by labour laws.

Sociocultural Aspects of Leadership: A Look at Gender Roles

“…Despite positive steps towards gendered equality, in 2017, the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment at the workplace became prominent not only in the social media but thousands of protestors took the movement to the streets, transforming it into a global crosscountry movement (Bhattacharyya, 2018;McDonald & White, 2018;Philipose & Kesavan, 2019;Regulska, 2018). Although the movement emerged with a number of accusations by Hollywood stars against Harvey Weinstein, the renowned director, however, way back in 2006, this movement was started by Tarana Burke aimed at helping victims of sexual assaults (Bhattacharyya, 2018;Ryskaliyev, 2019). "In Kazakhstan too, this movement has been gaining ground together with the launch of a similar local movement-#НемолчиKZ hashtag ("don't be silent")" (Ryskaliyev et al, 2019:16).…”