MOSCOW, March 12 - RAPSI. The government has forwarded a draft law to the State Duma which would prohibit employers from placing job advertisements which discriminate against certain candidates on the basis of age or gender.

The reference materials supplementing the document, which was published on the government's site on Tuesday, say that the bill will also stipulate the right of local governments to organize professional training, re-training and advanced training for retirees.

In addition, conscripts will have the right to receive priority professional training, re-training and advanced training within three years after their discharge from military service.

"The adoption of this bill will help protect people's right to freely use their capacity for work, (...) will promote professional training for and the employment of discharged conscripts and unemployed retirees with due regard of labor market requirements, and will also encourage flexible employment for parents of large families and those who have children with disabilities," the statement reads.

The document was drawn up by the Ministry of Employment and Social Security.