This year the calendar in Russia will reshape some holidays to a different weekday pattern. Defender of the Fatherland Day on February 23 falls on a Sunday, and International Women’s Day on March 8 was observed on a Saturday. The adjustment was described in official releases and centers on how days off are allocated when holidays would otherwise land on a weekend. Instead of letting the weekend stand as a non working pause, the authorities plan to shift these days to later dates. The proposed changes would move February 23 celebrations to May 8 and the March 8 observance to June 13. Workers who end up working on those days will receive double pay as compensation for the unusual schedule.
Article 112 of the labor code sets the rule for non working holidays that fall away from weekends: when a holiday loses a working day because it sits on a weekend, the day off should be moved to the closest working day. The year brings a decision to reassign February 23 and March 8 to later dates, with the expectation that the country will see a normal working cadence on the shifted dates while preserving the overall holiday count. In practice, this means workers who end up performing duties on the days created by the shift will be paid at double the ordinary rate for that day. The approach is meant to keep the total number of days off balanced while also addressing the impact on production, logistics, and public services that rely on staffed operations during holidays.
Earlier discussions in the national legislature centered on whether the workweek could be shortened or whether the pattern of working days and weekends could be adjusted. Some legislators suggested reducing the number of days in a workweek or the frequency of weekend breaks. The aim cited by proponents is to improve workers wellbeing, protect health, and boost overall productivity in the economy. The debate touched on how a shorter workweek might affect shift schedules, transportation, and public sector efficiency. The conversation reflected broader concerns about balancing economic output with employee wellbeing and the reliability of services that depend on a predictable schedule.