The Association of Entrepreneurs for the Promotion of Business Patriotism “Avanti” turned to the head of the Ministry of Labor Anton Kotyakov with a proposal to start a six-day working week in the country, to write “News”.
The authors of the initiative explain this with the anti-Russian sanctions that increase the burden on the economy and it is no longer able to show sustainable growth like before 2014.
“Thanks to the clear actions of the government and the Central Bank, the Russian economy and national currency not only withstood the blow, but also resisted stress. However, at the moment, our financial and economic system continues to need additional investments.”
According to Avanti representatives, the six-day period will enable the fulfillment of the tasks set by President Vladimir Putin for 2023: to achieve a technological and industrial breakthrough, to reduce dependence on foreign technologies and financial institutions, and to increase economic sovereignty in general. .
Entrepreneurs have also noticed that a six-day work practice exists in many Asian countries, including Nepal and Iran, and a 48-hour work week is allowed in Belgium and Turkey, i.e. six days from eight hours.
In addition, the authors of the proposal cited as an example the years of the Great Patriotic War, when the authorities introduced not only six days, but also seven days. After the end of the Second World War, the work week was gradually reduced: first to a six-day period of seven hours, and in 1967 to the usual five-day eight-hour work week.
Elena Tsunaeva, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans Affairs, in an interview with socialbites.ca expressed the opinion that a six-day week is no longer needed in Russia.
“Any initiative must be calculated and supported by the public. It was not in vain that unions and workers talked about the fact that there should be a five-day work week, because people still have to look after their families and their own business. It is already established where production requires uninterrupted work.”
According to him, any proposal for the restructuring of labor relations and the employment system should not be “jingoist”, but should comply with the law. And yet, measures are taken by the state and citizens to support the economy.
“Therefore, I don’t see such an urgent need for a six-day week. Show your patriotism, work six days? Our citizens are already helping and we are producing daily, taking into account the protection of citizens’ rights where it is economically necessary: shift work, benefits, payments and everything else, ”added Tsunaeva.
Her colleague in the Duma committee, Svetlana Bessarab, told Lenta.ru that the transition to the six-day period proposed by Avanti is currently impossible.
“The Association does not realize that compared to the Great Patriotic War, many things in the country have changed, to say the least. <…> It was relevant then, it was clear that the whole country was working on machine tools, creating shells, creating weapons. All enterprises working for the military-industrial complex today – even if the association does not feel sorry for this – are fully transferred to the necessary rails and work around the clock with the support of the state, ”the statement said.
He characterized the initiative of entrepreneurs as malicious and short-sighted, since more than half of the Russian economy is now represented by the private sector, which does not solve the tasks of the special operation.
Alexander Shershukov, vice-president of the Russian Federation of Independent Trade Unions, told TASS that by law businesses still have the right to start a six-day week. But this requires the consent of the worker collective, as well as additional payments for overtime hours.
“It means an increased amount of additional payment for this work. Also, it is possible to replace the payment with additional rest period. And to include an employee in overtime is possible with and without his consent – only in cases described in labor law: emergencies, etc. ”Shershukov explained.