Tag: Behind Bars

Russia Hopes To Use Prison Labor To Prepare For The 2018 World Cup Tournament

Prison Labour The Russian government has proposed using prisoners to help prepare for the 2018 World Cup.

Alexander Khinshtein, a lawmaker, has gotten the backing of the Russian prison service to enlist some of the country’s prisoners in building projects related to the soccer tournament, the Associated Press reports. Such an initiative would help keep costs of the World Cup down, since Russia typically pays prisoners about $300 per month for labor projects.

“It’ll help in the sense that there will be the opportunity to acquire building materials for a lower price,” Khinshtein told the AP. “And apart from that it’ll make it possible to get prisoners into work, which is very positive.”

The total estimated budget for the 2018 World Cup is 638 billion rubles, or more than $12 billion. However, the Russian ruble has lost significant value against the dollar since the start of 2014 because of international sanctions imposed against the country and the falling price of oil.

Read More on AP

Law Changes Proposed To Help Ex Criminal Offenders Find Work

How does an Employment Background Check Work_(1)It comes as figures show three-quarters of employers admit they discriminate against job applicants with a criminal record.

Ministers are to consult on proposals to modernize the law which means people must disclose their convictions from the past four years.

But the government stressed the change would not affect those convicted of serious offenses or those seeking work with children or the elderly.

A research report said the majority of employers admitted they discriminate against job applicants, while the government said it was eight times more difficult for an ex-offender to get a job than for someone with a clean record.

Read the original article on BBC