Propose Establishment of Specified "Family Hours" for Mothers with Kids
Reworked Article:
Boris Chernyshov, deputy speaker of the State Duma, pitched a progressive idea: cutting the standard workweek by two hours for parents with minor kids and lone fathers. He forwarded this suggestion to Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova, as per RIA Novosti's report.
Chernyshov advocates for including this provision in the Labor Code, stating, "Given the significance of demographic and family policy issues, I request your perusal and assessment of this proposal's legislative feasibility." In his appeal, he highlighted that citizens have repeatedly brought this issue to his attention during meetings with constituents.
Chernyshov terms this proposed change as "family hours," which, by arrangement with employers, can be utilized either in the morning or evening. He believes this adjustment would help working parents who struggle with work-life balance, enabling them to spend more quality time with their children and reduce potential conflicts.
He clarifies, " 'Family hours' can offer workers a valuable respite to attend their kids' sports events, cultural activities or simply spend more quality time together." Chernyshov emphasizes, "Essentially, this is about restoring harmony between work and personal life for the benefit of child-rearing."
Previous proposals to lessen the workday for parents include Igor Antropenko's call in April for women to work one hour less, and a bill submitted in the summer of 2024 by a group of deputies advocating for a 39-hour workweek for women with at least two minor children.
However, an in-depth look at current demographic issues in Russia reveals a focus on women rather than all parents or specific attention to single fathers. While legislative discussions are ongoing, recent reports suggest that a nationwide law addressing this issue has yet to be enacted. Conversely, other countries like Mexico are considering broader work hour reductions for all employees, but these proposals don't target parents or single fathers as specifically as Russia's draft legislation.
To sum up, if you're curious about policies addressing single fathers or all parents, as of now, there's no concrete evidence in accessible sources indicating that Russia has set such provisions in stone. The discussion continues to evolve, with a primary focus on women.
- Boris Chernyshov, the deputy speaker of the State Duma, proposed reducing the standard workweek by two hours for parents with minor children and single fathers.
- Chernyshov's idea involves adding "family hours" to the Labor Code, which can be used by parents for spending quality time with their children during morning or evening hours.
- The implementation of this proposal, if approved, could improve workplace-wellness and family-health by enabling parents to address their children's sports events, cultural activities, and strengthen family bonds.
- The idea of cutting working hours for parents is not new; previous proposals, such as Igor Antropenko's call for women to work one hour less and a bill for a 39-hour workweek for mothers with at least two minor children, have been suggested in the past.
- Despite ongoing discussions, there is no current national law in Russia that addresses work hour reductions specifically for all parents or single fathers, unlike certain proposals in other countries like Mexico.
