The Federation Council approved a proposal to grant parents and guardians of children with disabilities an extra 24 days of paid leave each year. Senators supported the amendment to the Labor Code of the Russian Federation during a session, according to RIA Novosti.
The draft would set forth Article 262 of the Labor Code, allowing once per year the use of paid vacation by a parent, guardian, or caregiver of a disabled child. This entitlement is framed as a one time per year benefit designed to support ongoing rehabilitation and care needs for children with disabilities.
The explanatory memorandum accompanying the bill explains that the measure would enable higher quality, more comprehensive rehabilitation at a time convenient for families. Proponents argue the change would strengthen the social protection system by improving the effectiveness of support for these families.
The 24 additional days are described as flexible paid leave that can be accumulated or carried forward into later periods within the calendar year. Scheduling of these days would require agreement with the employer.
Under current law, several categories of workers with children qualify for additional unpaid leave. These include parents with two or more children under age 14, parents of a disabled child under 18, and single parents. Such employees can take an extra two weeks of leave each year.
In late October reports noted that others caring for children with disabilities under 18 or children with group I disabilities from childhood receive monthly compensation payments. In 2021, Elena Bibikova, then Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy, stated that parents and caregivers of disabled children have the right to early retirement. She reminded that a parent raising a child with a disability until age eight may retire early, with women able to retire at 50 and men at 55, provided they meet the required work experience thresholds of 15 years for women and 20 years for men.
Russian social support landscape
Recently, government measures addressing various groups of citizens have increased. In late October 2021, the government allocated an additional 28.3 billion rubles to assist families with children aged three to seven. This is a monthly payment whose amount depends on the family’s average per capita income and can range from half to full coverage of the child’s regional minimum subsistence level. The cabinet stated that millions of children currently receive these payments.
Monthly payments also extend to non-working parents, adoptive parents, or guardians at a rate of 10,000 rubles. per month, while other qualifying individuals receive 1,200 rubles. The payments are issued in conjunction with the pension provided for the disabled child. Additionally, children with disabilities are eligible for a monthly cash payment of 2,919 rubles starting in 2021.
Starting in 2023, low-income families were set to receive a universal allowance. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced that this new package would consolidate several existing social protection measures, including payments related to birth and adoption. Applicants can access multiple benefit channels, and the amount of the universal allowance is linked to the national minimum wage, which is set to increase in the coming year.
Overall, these measures illustrate a broad effort to strengthen family support in Russia by expanding paid leave, retirement options, and direct financial assistance for families caring for children with disabilities and other dependents. They reflect ongoing policy debates about how best to balance work obligations with care responsibilities in households across the country.