Autonomous non-profit organization “Center for Social and Labor Rights”

The Center for Social and Labor Rights is a Russian non-governmental non-profit organization that promotes respect and protection of social and labor rights. The organization was founded in 1999. Among the goals of the Center are legal support of labor relations, education on labor rights and its protection, organization of public discussions, conferences and other events on the issues of labor relations, as well as trade union training and consulting.

In March 2016, the Center for Social and Labor Rights was included in the list of organizations that perform the functions of a “foreign agent” by the Ministry of Justice. Eventually, the center successfully appealed the Ministry’s decision and was removed from the list.

Name

Field of activity

Labor unions and professional organizations

Status

“Foreign agent” (NGO)

Reason for recognition

As political activities were considered: 1. Participation in the round table "Elimination of full-time groups for children under three years of age in kindergartens" in the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation. 2. Conducting a strategic session "Protection of the labor rights of citizens: difficulties and necessary solutions" at the IV Social Forum of Russia (organized by the State Duma and the Government of the Russian Federation). 3. Publication of an academic paper "International Labor Standards and Russian Labor Legislation". The organization challenged the decision and won the trial, and the court found the judgment of the Ministry of Justice unfounded.

Year of recognition

2016

Status description

Since 2012, such status can be obtained by non-profit organizations registered in Russia, and from 2020 unregistered public associations, which, according to the Russian government: a) receive foreign funding, b) participate in “political activity,” which is understood as any public activity. Who recognizes: Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. Responsibilities: NPO-"foreign agents” are required to provide a report on their activities, audit reports, and data on the organization’s personnel. In addition, they must submit to the Ministry of Justice a report on the goals and actual spending of funds, including those received from foreign sources. Unregistered public associations must provide the Ministry of Justice with a notice on receipt of funds from foreign sources and participation in political activities, as well as with a report on the funds received, purposes, and their actual use. Administrative liability: mentioning an NGO-"foreign agent” and an unregistered public association-foreign agent on the Internet or in the media—a fine of up to 50 thousand rubles. (Article 13.15 of the Code of Administrative Offences). failure to submit or untimely submission of reports—a fine of up to 300 thousand rubles for an NCO-foreign agent (Article 19.7.5-2 of the Code of Administrative Offences) and up to 30 thousand rubles for unregistered public associations (Article 19.7.5-3 of the Code of Administrative Offences). if the association produces or distributes materials without specifying that such association is a foreign agent—a fine of up to 300 thousand rubles, for unregistered public associations (Article 19.7.5-3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) and up to 500 thousand rubles for an NGO-foreign agent (Article 19.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences). if an employee, but not an association as a whole, distributes any materials and does not indicate that he/she is an employee of an NGO-foreign agent—a fine of five thousand rubles and for unregistered public associations (Article 19.7.5-3 of the Code of Administrative Offences), and for NGOs (Article 19.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences). if the organization operates but does not enter itself in the register of foreign agents—a fine of up to 500 thousand rubles for non-profit organizations (Article 19.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences). if the activities of the organization are suspended, but it continues to function—a fine for an unregistered public association for organizers up to two thousand rubles, and for participants—up to one thousand rubles, for an NGO-foreign agent—a fine of up to 50 thousand rubles for organizers and up to five thousand rubles for participants (Article 20.28 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Criminal liability: malicious evasion of reporting by registered NGOs and unregistered public associations recognized as foreign agents—a fine of up to 300 thousand rubles or imprisonment for up to two years (par.1 article 330.1 of the Criminal Code).

Protection of workers' rights