Newsletter May 2020 RUSSIA
Putin’s decrees: end of non-working days, support for business and citizens On May 11, 2020, the President of Russia approved two consecutive decrees to implement additional measures to support families with children and prolong sanitary protective measures due to the pandemic. The brief summary of updates, which could be vital for you, is as follows: 1. The Russia-wide non-working period with retained salary is finished as of May 12, 2020. However, all governors of the Russian regions are taking the relevant protective and sanitary measures locally based on the epidemic situation in their region. If the governors make the decision to cease particular businesses due to the pandemic measures, all employees of the affected companies shall be paid their regular salary. We see it as analogous to the non-working period with retained salary. In particular, it is a matter of implementation in Moscow and Moscow Region. 2. Strict self-isolation measures still apply to citizens over 65. The governors were instructed that the final say would be with doctors and public health specialists. 3. All mass events in the country are further banned without concrete a end date. 4. Russian citizens with children up to 3 years old are entitled to a monthly allowance of RUB
5,000 for each child from April to June 2020. To receive it, they must reside in Russia and their first child must be born (or adopted) between April 1, 2017 and January 1, 2020. The same allowance is payable to Russian citizens who are or were entitled to the multiple child allowance (maternity capital) by July 1, 2020. Russian citizens with children of 3-16 years of age (turning 16 prior to July 1, 2020) are entitled to a one-time allowance for each child (also a Russian citizen) in the amount of RUB 10,000 starting July 1, 2020. The respective families can receive these allowances via the state services portal (Gosuslugi) or through the State Pension Fund’s website until October 1, 2020. 5. It was also announced that the minimum amount of the state child care allowance will be doubled (up to RUB 6,751; previously RUB 3,375). Since we see a general tendency to reduce the protective measures, we recommend that you develop a step-plan for returning employees to business operations. For instance, the relevant continuation of personnel’s work at offices and other workplaces after the temporary remote work regime should be properly formalized by an HR order and/or addendum to the employees’ employment agreements (if applicable).
33
