Restrictions on labour rights of teaching staff: theory and practice

Introduction: the article analyzes the problems associated with restrictions on labour rights of teaching staff and other persons engaged in working with minors. The author questions the possibility of imposing such restrictions on persons accused of committing crimes prior to the introduction of relevant amendments to the Labour Code of the Russian Federation, as well as the reasonability of prohibitions in some cases. Purpose: to analyze the constitutionality and validity of applying the rules of Articles 331 and 351.1 of the Labour Code of the Russian Federation. Methodology: a set of methods of scientific cognition, with the dialectical method as the major one, underlies the methodological framework of the study. The author uses both general scientific methods (dialectics, analysis and synthesis, abstraction and concretization) and methods specific to legal science (formal and technical legal methods). Results: restrictions on labour rights of individuals who were convicted or subjected to criminal prosecution prior to the introduction of amendments to the Labour Code, does not comply with the rule of prohibition of the retroactive effect of the law, and in the case of those individuals against whom prosecution was terminated, such restrictions also violate the constitutional principle of the presumption of innocence. In addition, the author questions the propriety and fairness of the application of restrictions to persons accused of crimes of small and average gravity against whom criminal prosecution was terminated, except those accused of crimes against sexual freedom and inviolability. Conclusions: the author suggests leaving within the power of Commissions on the Affairs of Minors to allow employment solely to individuals with a criminal record for crimes of small and average gravity, except crimes against sexual inviolability and sexual freedom. Any prohibitions and restrictions on labour rights of persons against whom criminal prosecution was terminated on non-exonerating grounds should be applied only if the decision related to the termination of criminal prosecution was made before January 7, 2011.