There is no definite position in the Kremlin regarding the proposal to shorten the New Year holidays in 2021. This was stated by spokesman for the Russian leader Dmitry Peskov.

“There is no position in the Kremlin on this score. We know that every year, in different manifestations, a discussion is held on this topic. Nevertheless, there is an established practice from which we proceed, ”said Peskov, answering the corresponding question.

Earlier, the head of the economic department of the Council of the Federation, Andrei Kutepov, sent a bill on the reduction of the New Year holidays in 2021 from January 1 to 3 for recall to the Ministry of Labor. The author of the document believes that a revision of the number of days off is necessary to compensate for non-working days in 2020 due to the situation with coronavirus infection.

“In order to compensate for the number of forced non-working days to support the economies of enterprises and organizations, the bill proposes to reduce the New Year holidays in 2021 and make the working week from January 4 to January 8, with the exception of January 7,” the document said. Kutepov emphasized that the initiative applies only to 2021.

The senator also pointed out that at the end of March many workers were transferred to part-time work or to another free schedule, however, employers were obliged to pay them salaries even “in the absence of a labor function or partial performance”.

As the senator noted, even after the May holidays, due to the different epidemiological situation in the regions, not all enterprises were able to resume work. He also pointed out that the non-working day regime is not a vacation, and therefore the head will not be able to refuse the next paid vacation to his employees.

  • © Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP

Kutepov estimated that the number of non-working days in 2020 was more than 20%. In the document, he explained that in accordance with the production calendar, in 2020 they had to work 247 days, and rest - 118 (including all weekends and holidays). However, the number of days off taking into account the Victory Day parade on June 24 and the day of voting on amendments to the Constitution, scheduled for July 1, will reach 120. However, another 27 days were non-working, the senator noted.

Recall that in accordance with the decree of the President of Russia from March 30 to April 5, 2020, non-working days with salary remained in force in the country. Subsequently, this procedure was extended until April 30. In addition, days from May 6 to May 8, 2020 were declared non-working.

The receipt of a document on the revision of the New Year holidays was confirmed by the Ministry of Labor. The department indicated that in accordance with the Labor Code 1-6, as well as January 8, are the New Year holidays, and on January 7, Christmas is celebrated. 

Earlier, the Ministry of Labor reminded the Russians of the shortened working week, which falls on June 24 - the date of the Victory Parade. Earlier, June 24 was declared a day off with the preservation of wages in accordance with the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Taking into account days off, this week the workers will be June 22-23 and June 25-26.

Recall that the corresponding decision became known on May 29. Then Vladimir Putin signed a decree on holding the Victory Parade on June 24. The document indicated that on this day military parades will be held, including on Red Square, as well as fireworks to mark the 75th anniversary of the Victory in World War II.

In 2020, Victory parades were postponed from the traditional date of May 9 to a later date due to the coronavirus infection pandemic.

Commenting on Kutepov’s proposal, Senator Sergei Kalashnikov opposed revising the dates of the New Year holidays.

“People are used to having long vacations. And, in spite of how many people rested in March and April, it cannot be called a vacation, to deprive people of the New Year holidays, I think it would be unfair, ”said the senator in an interview with the NSN.

At the same time, Kutepov’s initiative was supported by Gennady Onishchenko, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education and Science.

“I believe that it is necessary to reduce them even more: on December 31 in the afternoon to leave work, and on January 2 in friendly ranks already open a new working year,” Onishchenko said in an interview with Sputnik radio.