Ukrainian parliament passes anti-discrimination law at work place

The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday backed the amendments of the country's Labor Code, prohibiting all forms of discrimination at the work place, the parliament said.

The legislation, one of the main conditions set by the European Union (EU) to grant Ukrainian citizens visa-free access to EU countries, was approved by 234 votes in favor with the 226 minimum required, according to a statement on the parliament's website.

Under the new law, the amended Labor Code would ban any discrimination at the workplace on the basis of age, health condition, race, political inclination, religion, family and property status, social and foreign origin, gender identity and sexual orientation.

Over the past two weeks, the anti-discrimination bill was put to a vote five times. However, the parliament had been opposing it over the sexual orientation clause, as many lawmakers argued that a ban on anti-gay discrimination is "a threat to family values and the country's conservative traditions."

Earlier this month, the Ukrainian parliament approved a set of other bills required for the liberalization of the visa regime with the EU, in particular a crucial legislation enhancing the fight against corruption.

The final decision over whether Ukraine will acquire the visa-free access starting next year is pending approval by the 28-member bloc next month. Endi