The law on the regulation of employee privacy is said to establish "an equitable balance between the interests of employees in protecting personal data and the legitimate interests of employers," according to a translation of a statement on the Federal Cabinet's website.
The law clarifies the questions that can be asked during a job application process. It is acceptable for an employer to request an applicant's name, address, telephone number and email address, according to the law; but certain internet searches are forbidden.
According to a translation of the draft law, employers may collect data in the public domain as a means of researching a job candidate, except where the legitimate interests of the employee in that data outweigh the legitimate interests of the employer.
It specifies that social networks that are used for electronic communication may not be used for research, except for social networks that exist to represent the professional qualifications of their members.
Official guidance that accompanies the law cites Facebook as an example of a service used for communication, which must not form part of a "private fishing expedition" and LinkedIn as a service used to represent professional qualifications which can be explored.
The bill also regulates phone, email, internet and video surveillance in the private sector.
