Is Paid Maternity Leave Available In Russia?

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Maternity leave is the time a mother takes off from work following the birth of her baby, typically measured in weeks. Many employers also offer leave for the father, typically referred to as paternity leave. Child and maternity benefits in Russia include parental leave, maternity capital (if you give birth to more than one child), an early stages benefit (if you register your pregnancy within the first 12 weeks), and a one-time benefit. A female pregnant employee in Russia receives 140 days of fully paid maternity leave, which is split into Prenatal leave of 70 days (84 days in case of multiple births) and 70 days of postnatal leave.

Maternity leave is paid by employers, but in 2016-2017, it was paid by regional/local Social Insurance Funds. In 2016, 13 countries offered 100 equivalent pay for maternity leave, all of which offered at least 3 months equivalent pay. 29 countries offered at least 2 months worth of paid time. Paid maternity leave is increased to 84 days before the birth where more than one child is expected, and 86 days after the birth for a difficult birth or 110 days where more than one child is expected.

Russia’s Labor Code includes special procedures for female employees and employees with family responsibilities. Employees in Russia are allowed numerous types of maternity leave, with a minimum of 3 years of maternity leave, 1. 5 of which are paid. The government plans to increase state maternity payments by around $500 next year as the country struggles with a shrinking number of births.

Relatives or guardians who take care of the child can request paid parental leave at any time until the child reaches the age of 18 months. Since 2007, maternity capital benefits have been paid by the Pension Fund to Russian mothers or families who gave birth to or adopted a second child.

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📹 Maternity Leave in RUSSIA What support regular MOM gets from the government

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Which Country Has The Best Paid Maternity Leave
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Which Country Has The Best Paid Maternity Leave?

Determining the best country for maternity leave reveals that Bulgaria stands out, offering 410 days at 90% pay, making it the most generous globally. Sweden offers extensive maternity leave as well, with 390 days at 80% pay, while Slovakia follows with 238 days at 75% pay. Other notable countries include Croatia, providing 196 days at 100% pay, and Greece, which offers 119 days at 100% pay. Canada allows 365 days at 55% pay, and the Czech Republic provides 196 days at 70% pay. New Zealand pays a flat rate for 182 days of leave.

Recent assessments by UNICEF highlight the parental leave policies and their uptake rates, illustrating that many states in the U. S. have initiated their own paid maternity leave plans, with Massachusetts leading. Countries such as Estonia, Japan, and others also have impressive maternity leave frameworks. This analysis serves not only to guide employers in establishing competitive maternity policies but also sheds light on what international standards look like for parental support.

Overall, while Bulgaria is noted for the longest duration of leave, Sweden and Slovakia also make significant contributions to parental leave advantages, fostering wellbeing for new parents and their families globally.

Who Pays A Child Maternity Allowance In Russia
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Who Pays A Child Maternity Allowance In Russia?

The Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation covers maternity benefits, allowing employees up to five days of unpaid leave after childbirth. Fathers raising children without the mother receive equivalent benefits. Foreign women with residency permits can access pregnancy and birth allowances. Since 2007, maternity capital—financial support for families with a second child—has been provided by the Pension Fund. Federal allowances, including maternity capital, are available to Russian families regardless of the child's birthplace.

Women employed are entitled to paid maternity leave for 140 days, split into 70 days pre-birth and 70 days post-birth, during which they receive 100% of their average salary from the previous two years. Starting February 2021, an early registration allowance during the first trimester is set at 708. 23 RUB. Additionally, families earn subsidies, such as maternity capital, which can be utilized for housing, education, or monthly payments. In 2023, families receiving their first child qualify for 587, 000 RUB in maternity capital.

If employed, mothers can take three years of maternity leave, with 1. 5 years paid. The Russian government also provides subsidies for low-income families, which were introduced starting in 2020 for first-time mothers.

How Long Is Maternity Pay In USA
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How Long Is Maternity Pay In USA?

In the U. S., the only federal law guaranteeing maternity leave is unpaid, primarily through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which offers up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave after childbirth or adoption for eligible employees. Unfortunately, many employees do not qualify for this benefit. While the FMLA guarantees unpaid leave, some employers may provide paid maternity leave voluntarily, so it's important to review specific company policies.

States have varying laws regarding maternity leave; currently, California, Rhode Island, and New Jersey have established paid leave policies. Some states, like Connecticut, offer longer unpaid leave durations than the federal standard. On average, new mothers take around 10 weeks of maternity leave, with a portion covered by paid sick and personal leave.

The FMLA, enacted in 1993, specifically allows for unpaid leave without federal mandates for paid leave. Employees must be employed for at least 12 months and have worked a minimum of 1, 250 hours to be eligible for FMLA protection. The Federal Employee Paid Leave Act provides federal employees with 12 weeks of paid parental leave starting from 2020. Overall, the U. S. lags behind many other countries in providing paid parental leave.

How Much Is The Maternity Allowance In Russia
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How Much Is The Maternity Allowance In Russia?

In 2025, first-time mothers in Russia will receive a lump sum of 677, 000 rubles ($7, 000), a slight increase from the existing 630, 400 rubles. During maternity leave, women are entitled to an allowance based on their average salary over the past two years, with a maximum daily payout set at 2, 301. 37 rubles in 2020. The Russian government offers maternity capital to families with newborns or adopted children, currently amounting to 587, 000 rubles ($7, 400).

Maternity and child benefits are managed by the Social Insurance Fund, and payments can vary by region. Families with their first child in 2023 will receive 587, 000 rubles under this program. Mothers or fathers can obtain a monthly child care allowance up until the child is 18 months old, calculated as 40% of the average income, capping the amount. Maternity leave generally spans 140 days, with 70 days both before and after childbirth, and is accessible upon presenting a medical certificate.

Since 2020, maternity capital has been set at 466, 617 rubles, reflecting Russia's efforts to alleviate declining birth rates. A family's total maternity allowance might reach up to 340, 795 rubles, with specific eligibility defined based on the number of children.

How Many Days Of Paid Leave In Russia
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How Many Days Of Paid Leave In Russia?

In Russia, labor law ensures that all full-time employees receive a minimum of 28 calendar days of paid vacation annually, translating to roughly 20 working days based on a standard five-day workweek. Article 115 of the Russian Labor Code mandates this leave, which can be taken after one month of employment. Additionally, the average vacation benefits from private employers vary, starting with 10 days after one year of service and increasing incrementally to 20 days after 20 years.

Employees may take their annual leave in parts, yet the total vacation time should not exceed 28 days in any calendar year. Importantly, one period of leave must consist of at least 14 consecutive days, thereby ensuring substantial time off for employees. Furthermore, specific job categories or individual circumstances may entitle employees to extended leave.

Notably, maternity leave in Russia also features comprehensive provisions, granting a total of 140 days, split equally before and after childbirth. Thus, Russian labor laws provide robust protections for employee vacation and maternity rights, ensuring workers maintain a healthy work-life balance while securing their positions and pay during these periods.

Is Paternity Leave Regulated In Russia
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Is Paternity Leave Regulated In Russia?

Paternity leave in Russia is not legally regulated, meaning fathers do not have guaranteed paid time off upon the birth of a child. While fathers are eligible for up to 5 unpaid days of paternity leave, there are no statutory rights for paid leave. Russia's parental leave system encompasses two primary types: maternity leave for pregnancy and childbirth and childcare leave, which is also known as parental leave.

This legislation allows both mothers and fathers, as well as other relatives, the flexibility to take parental leave in full or in part. However, there is no specific paternity leave as outlined in Russian law.

If a father chooses to take unpaid paternity leave, he may not receive any compensation. Paid paternity leave is not formally recognized, though in practice, there is provision for parental leave which can be utilized by the father, grandmother, grandfather, or other relatives caring for the child until they are 18 months old. To qualify for paid leave, fathers must present a birth certificate. Despite the absence of a distinct paternity leave framework, the Russian legal system allows for shared parental responsibilities through its existing leave policies. Parental leave is managed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, offering some level of support to families during the critical post-birth period.

Which Country Pays 52 Weeks Of Maternity Leave
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Which Country Pays 52 Weeks Of Maternity Leave?

In the United Kingdom, women are entitled to 52 weeks of maternity leave, with the initial 39 weeks compensated at 90% of their average earnings. While certain U. S. states like California and New Jersey have established their own paid maternity leave plans, the U. K. framework is relatively generous compared to many others globally. Countries in Africa and the Middle East typically offer very short maternity leave, with Qatar and Tunisia averaging only 4 to 5 weeks.

Major economies such as China, India, and the U. S. significantly vary in their maternity leave provisions. Notably, Estonia stands out as the country with the best paid maternity leave, offering 62 weeks at full pay. Countries like Croatia and Bulgaria also provide extended leave, both at 58 weeks. Meanwhile, the U. S. lacks a federal maternity leave policy, although about 20 out of 41 countries allocate most of their paid leave for maternity purposes.

On average, maternity leave in OECD countries spans 18. 5 weeks. Among European nations, the U. K. aligns with the 52-week standard found in several countries, making it competitive within the broader context of international maternity policies.

Which Country Gives The Most Maternity Leave
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Which Country Gives The Most Maternity Leave?

Bulgaria is recognized as the country with the most extensive maternity leave, offering new parents a total of 410 days, which amounts to approximately 58. 6 weeks, at 90% salary. This leave period begins 45 days before the expected due date. Other Eastern European countries, such as Greece and Slovakia, also provide considerable maternity leave, but none match Bulgaria’s offering. Notable mentions in the developed world include New Zealand, which plans to increase its paid leave entitlement to 22 weeks.

In contrast, many countries provide shorter durations, such as the UK with 52 weeks and Costa Rica with a total of 4 months, split between prenatal and postnatal periods. Despite being competitive, Sweden's paid leave policy offering 56 weeks at 80% of salary still falls short compared to Bulgaria. Among others, Norway is acknowledged for substantial paid leave but does not surpass Bulgaria's duration.

International standards recommend a minimum of 14 weeks of maternity leave, yet countries like Estonia, with a maximum of 86 weeks, also stand out. In summary, Bulgaria leads globally for maternity leave, offering new mothers significant support during this critical period.

Is Maternity Leave Paid In Ukraine
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Is Maternity Leave Paid In Ukraine?

Pregnant women in Ukraine are entitled to 126 days of paid maternity leave, which includes 70 days before the due date and 56 days after childbirth. If complications arise during delivery or in the case of multiple births, postpartum leave can extend to an additional 70 days. Previously, the maternity leave provisions offered the same duration of 70 days before birth and 56 days following it; however, now adjustments allow for a total of 140 days under certain circumstances, ensuring comprehensive support for expectant mothers.

During their maternity leave, women receive 100% of their earnings, financed by the social security program. This coverage also encompasses parental leave options, allowing parents to take care of children until they are three years old, as well as financial assistance related to childbirth, which is set to be UAH 41, 280 for 2024. Initial payments of UAH 10, 320 are made immediately, with subsequent amounts dispensed later. Additionally, employees are entitled to a minimum of 24 calendar days of paid annual leave after six months of continuous employment.

The benefits for maternity leave in Ukraine stand out, being more generous compared to some EU countries like France and Germany, where the durations are shorter. Overall, the Ukrainian regulatory framework provides essential and well-defined maternity benefits, ensuring a supportive environment for working mothers.

How Long Is Maternity Leave In Russia
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How Long Is Maternity Leave In Russia?

In Russia, female employees are entitled to 140 days of fully paid maternity leave, which is divided into 70 days before the birth and 70 days after. If expecting multiple births, the prenatal leave extends to 84 days. Maternity leave is a legally guaranteed right, regulated by the Social Insurance Fund, ensuring that employees receive 100% of their salary during this period. Additionally, after completing maternity leave, mothers have the option to take up to three years of childcare leave, although only half of this duration is compensated.

During the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, a one-time maternity allowance is provided, starting from RUB 708. 23 as of February 2021. In case of complications or difficult childbirth, the postnatal leave can be extended to 86 days, or 110 days for multiple births. Furthermore, working mothers can take vacation days either before or after their maternity leave without needing to fulfill the requirement of six months of continuous service.

Parents are also allowed to take paid leave for childcare; up to 60 days each year for children under 7 and 45 days for children aged 7 to 15. Overall, maternity leave in Russia is structured to support families during the crucial period surrounding childbirth.

What Country Gives 1 Year Maternity Leave
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What Country Gives 1 Year Maternity Leave?

Estonia boasts the most comprehensive maternity leave, offering over one year of leave with up to 86 weeks off, including 20 weeks at 100% of the employee's salary. Following Estonia, Bulgaria provides the most maternity leave overall, at 58. 6 weeks. However, its paid rate is notable as well, with a substantial average of 90%. In contrast, maternity leave tends to be shortest in Africa and the Middle East, exemplified by Qatar and Tunisia, where it averages only 4 to 5 weeks.

Major economies, such as China, India, and the United States, offer varying leave durations but generally provide less structured support. While the United States lacks federal paid parental leave, some states like California and New Jersey have enacted their own paid maternity leave laws. Similarly, Albania offers three types of parental leave contingent on social security contributions. Countries like Norway, with 343 days at 100% pay, and the UK with 273 days at 90% pay, also stand out for their generous policies.

Other nations, such as Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, allow extensive leave that can be equally shared between parents, further establishing the benchmark for global maternity leave standards. A comprehensive guide on international maternity leave describes the diverse approaches to supporting new parents worldwide.


📹 Huge Q&A About RUSSIA – Stereotypes, Money, Orthodox Church, Maternity Leave and Many More!

Answering a ton of questions about my country today! Hope you’ll learn something new about Russia after this video Thank …


Freya Gardon

Hi, I’m Freya Gardon, a Collaborative Family Lawyer with nearly a decade of experience at the Brisbane Family Law Centre. Over the years, I’ve embraced diverse roles—from lawyer and content writer to automation bot builder and legal product developer—all while maintaining a fresh and empathetic approach to family law. Currently in my final year of Psychology at the University of Wollongong, I’m excited to blend these skills to assist clients in innovative ways. I’m passionate about working with a team that thinks differently, and I bring that same creativity and sincerity to my blog about family law.

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  • Hi guys! Welcome (back) to my website! 🤗 In this article I want to talk about different types of support that you can get having kids in Russia. If you are interested in how the maternity leave system works here, please keep perusal and I hope you’ll enjoy the article. 😊 Join me on Instagram for more content: instagram.com/julie.from.russia If you would like to support me and my family: Paypal: paypal.com/paypalme/juliefromrussia Patreon: patreon.com/JuliefromRussia Julie

  • Thank you Julie, l love to see that people are the same no matter where we are born or where we live! I look forward to learning more about The Russian family life from the perspective of the mother. As a man I am fascinated with the finances of the average family. Again I thank you very much for sharing, God bless!

  • Very informative! I like this. Since I talked to some people here about Russia, this could very well be something very interesting to show the females here to learn more pros about Russia. I’ve talked to some people about me having interest in going to Russia for maybe a year or several months to explore the opportunities there, like work and education, and the topic of medical services came up. After that, your article came up in my notifications, and it was right timing. 😆👍 Of course, child support falls under medical category, so it was something. The biggest problem I have with US health care system is its costs. I’m fairly shocked to see that the costs aren’t so much. Also, I must add that the time off due to pregnancy, it seems that in Russia, it’s way easier to obtain such support unlike here in the US where a pregnant woman may have to struggle just to obtain support. I’ve worked with female coworkers who were complaining about the bosses trying to not acknowledge they’re pregnant and make them do hard labor work anyway. One time, an argument happened near me and I pretty much heard from a female boss “you signed up since hire to be able to lift 50 lbs. You’re telling me you can’t? Then what are you useful for? I don’t need you! You’re just a waste if you can’t do your job,” all while the pregnant coworker was telling the boss “I’m pregnant! The doctor told me I can’t be carrying heavy things, especially over and over.” Just hearing your explanation about child support in Russia makes it sound like heaven, as in better support than what we have in the US 😮!

  • My other comment is about the article itself, as a fellow YouTuber 😉 I really enjoyed the topic and how you covered it – very interesting! I do have a few suggestions, though. Since this is a “talking head” type of a article, I’d recommend changing vantage points every once in a while. Also, adding graphics (e.g., $$ amounts, Sobyanin’s picture, etc.) might help viewers follow along. Lastly, the music. When you used it in the vlog-style article, I didn’t really notice that it was an an eternal loop, but it was pretty evident in this one 😅 Maybe consider rotating through 3-4 different tracks? But, overall, really awesome – keep it up, sister 🦸‍♀️

  • That is a really good article! Sometimes even Russians do not know this. 😃 By the way, I want to mention, that when my elder son was born, and I was just 22, there were not so many state support measures for young families. The situation has improved recently. I was impressed to learn about the current situation, when I became a mom of my third child (not a young mom already, haha 😆😢). Now people have absolutely everything to have a family. They need just to work.. Good mortgage for families, the support from the government, a really good maternity leave, kindergartens from 1.5 years (when my Sanya was small, you couldn’t send a child to the kindergarten before one is 3 years old).

  • Very informative content and nice delivery. Here in my state of CT our laws allow 12 weeks of paid leave per year. That’s all. It seems your province is very family oriented and is willing to promote policies good for family building. Since family is the fabric of society, the policies will have a long term good effect on the citizenry

  • Well done on your second article. As an Australian I am surprised by the large size of the lump sum payments in Russia compared to incomes. In some poorer regions of Russia these must be more than 6 months income. Australia had lump some payments after birth however these were replaced with 13 fortnightly payments as much of the money given to people with drug problems was just wasted. Maternity leave in Australia is 12 months; it is usually started about 1 month before the due date. Some employers especially government departments and large companies for professional positions provide a period of payed maternity leave at the normal salary level. For those that do not get employer paid leave the government provides 90 days paid leave at the minimum wage about USD $554 per week. A common complaint of women in professional career roles is that if they take more than 3 months leave their employer will view them as not serious about their career and overlook them for promotion. The average age of first time mothers is 29.4 years.

  • Many viewers will be surprised by this information. Russia has realised for quite some time that people should not be afraid to start a family. These benefits are quite close to the benefits throughout Europe (except perhaps U K) and I understand that benefits in Moscow and Saint Petersburg where cost of living is higher than other regions of Russia. Very well presented and best of luck with your website. 🙋🤱👪

  • This is so fascinating. Although I chose for myself to never have children, I do appreciate people who do choose to have children and I’m grateful many countries have special programs for families with children. Speaking of not having children, what is the sterilization process like in Russia? Usually in the United States men will get sterilized when a husband and a wife agree not to have any more children. It’s quite difficult for women to get sterilized, and may times they have to get permission from their husbands or wait until after a certain age. Having no partner makes it even harder on women. I had to wait until I was 30 before I was able to get my procedure, and I was denied many times even when I turned 30.

  • That’s an interesting topic, and in the case of Europe we have a lot of variations. For example in France, government support is only available for families with more than one child. Most other nations consider this a joke, as the first child is the time when families need support the most. In countries like Germany, Denmark and Switzerland, families get around 200 Euro per child every month. In Austria, France and Poland, it’s more than 100 Euro per month. Germany gives “child” support until age 25 if the person studies at university. It is thinkable that a young mother who studies at university still receives the 200 Euro benefits from her parents and gets it also for her own child. In difference to Russia, many nations in western Europe have gender neutral benefits: In Germany and similar countries, the parent with less income will be more likely to stay at home, while the other parent is going back to work as soon as possible. When those benefits were introduced decades ago, they were also like in Russia for mothers only, but this has been changed now. Can Russian fathers also receive paid parenthood leave from the fatherland? 😉

  • Привет Yuliya (I prefer the Russian version of your name 🙂). What a great job you did on your 2nd article and you performed perfectly 😎. So much information and all presented in a calm and very professional way. As for the topic itself I will need to gather some information about things here where I am to present to you and anyone else interested. Need some time for research since, as you know, the topic is for biological reasons (gender and age) a little uncommon for me 😅🤖. But what I can say at this point is things here sound not too uncommon from the information you gave 🙂. But as I said, it will take a short while to update you if you are interested 🙂.

  • Interesting how maternity and child support/assistance works in Russia! I can’t even imagine the government here helping every family pay for hospital costs here in the USA…would definently change our society here and the way things work and our economy, I think indeed Russia wants to encourage child birth as I have heard that the population is rapidly decreasing there overall

  • You mentioned that In Russia, the employer cannot fire you while you’re on maternal leave. While this is true, when you’re interviewing for the job, it’s not illegal for the manager to ask: “Are you planning to have a child soon?” And then use that in hiring decisions… In the US, maternal leave is a joke, but it’s illegal to even ask if you are married. Makes me wonder if there exists a country with strong anti-discrimination laws AND reasonable maternity leave? 🤷‍♀️

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