St. Petersburg, June 26 (RAPSI) - The Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, approved a bill Wednesday prohibiting employers from stipulating restriction relating to gender, age, and marital status in job vacancy announcements, with a fine reaching 15,000 rubles (approximately $458). 

For violations, the federal Administrative Offense Code implies a fine of 500 -1,000 rubles ($15-30) for individuals, 3,000-5,000 rubles ($ 91 -159) for sole proprietors with no separate legal identity, and 10,000-15,000 rubles ($305 - 458) for legal entities. 

The lawmakers believe the bill responds well to today's challenges, as many elderly individuals remain willing to work although they are pensioners. 

State bodies will now be able to develop and implement measures to create conditions for unemployed parents with many children, who raise kids with disabilities, for combining raising children and jobs.

The law also supplements a list of unemployed citizens who have the right to take professional training, re-training, and advanced training on a priority basis.

The right to free professional training will be granted to those who served in the army as conscripts during three years following retirement.