A proposal was presented to Russia’s lower house of parliament to adjust the country’s holiday calendar. The proposal suggests suspending the period from May 1 to May 9 each year and shortening the New Year holiday period by four days. The information came from a discussion with reporters at TASS, where the deputy speaker of the State Duma explained the plan.
The bill, focused on a longer May weekend, was submitted to the State Duma by the New People party. The lawmakers behind the measure say the changes would shift four days from the end of the New Year holidays onto May, creating an extended break without altering the total number of non working days. The amendments target a section of the Labor Code that covers non working holidays. An explanatory note accompanying the document states that the reform would not increase or decrease the overall tally of non working days and would not add extra costs to the budget.
If the bill were to pass immediately, the calendar would feature an uninterrupted holiday stretch from April 29 through May 9 in 2023. The plan would also affect the Christmas period on January 7 and the May holidays, consolidating long breaks into a single extended window.
The parliamentarian who spoke on the matter argued that the idea serves as a practical balance between work and leisure. He suggested that taking advantage of an extended spring break is preferable to staying indoors during the deep winter months, highlighting the value of spending time outdoors with family and friends during a long weekend.
Earlier coverage indicated ongoing discussions about May holidays in Russia and whether the standard seven working days could be rearranged. The conversation continues to explore how best to structure public holidays so that they maximize rest while keeping the overall annual leave framework stable for workers and employers alike.