The State Duma adopted in the third reading a bill regulating remote work.

The law will enter into force on January 1, 2021.

The document clarifies the concept of remote work, which can be permanent, temporary (for a period not exceeding six months) or periodic.

According to the innovations, an employment contract or an agreement to it may provide for the employee to perform his duties remotely on an ongoing basis (throughout the entire term of the employment contract) or temporarily, that is, continuously for up to six months.

The law also provides for the alternation of remote work and work at a stationary workplace.

The document secures additional guarantees for the remuneration of an employee performing work remotely.

“The transition to remote work can not be the basis for a reduction in wages,” the State Duma said.

According to the law, when an employee is temporarily transferred to a remote location, the employer must provide him with the necessary equipment, and if the employee uses his own equipment, compensate for the costs in the manner and amount approved by the local act.

At the same time, the document contains cases that allow an employee to be transferred to a remote location without his consent: these include disasters, accidents, epidemics and other circumstances that threaten the life of the population.

In addition, the bill limits the list of grounds for dismissing teleworkers - for example, he cannot be fired for absenteeism.

At the same time, the contract with such an employee may be terminated if he does not get in touch for more than two working days without a valid reason.

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The law makes it possible to streamline issues related to the working hours of remote workers, in particular, their right not to be in touch with the employer around the clock and not to answer letters and calls at certain time intervals.

The document, in particular, secures the employee's right to be offline.

"The time of interaction between the employer and the employee during the employee's rest period is paid to the employee in the manner prescribed for overtime work," the explanatory note says.

The first deputy chairman of the United Russia faction, one of the authors of the initiative, Andrei Isaev, explained to RIA Novosti that the “right to offline” is now spelled out in the document “in a more literate legal language”, which will protect the employee from overwork.

In addition, the text contains a provision on the specifics of the employee's working hours and rest. 

In case of illness, teleworkers will be able to send the employer the number of the electronic certificate of incapacity for work.

At the same time, it will be possible, at the request of the employee, to enter information about the hiring into his paper work book when concluding an employment contract.

The exchange of documents will also be possible, including by mail. 

As the Chairman of the State Duma Viacheslav Volodin explained the day before, the coronavirus pandemic has led to a large-scale spread of teleworking, in connection with which legislative gaps in this matter have been identified.

He stressed that the draft law had been thoroughly discussed with all interested parties - with trade unions, employers, government, experts.

Volodin also noted that the law directly applies to those who find it difficult to compete in the labor market - people with disabilities, women with small children, young people taking up jobs for the first time, citizens of pre-retirement age.

“Amendments to the Labor Code on remote work will help preserve employment and develop the labor market,” said Volodin.

On the eve of President Vladimir Putin instructed the government "to ensure the improvement of the normative regulation of teleworking."

In a document published on the Kremlin's website, it is indicated that the president noted the need to "maintain a balance of interests of workers and employers, minimize the cost of organizing this type of work, as well as prevent its excessive regulation."

Prolongation of removal in Moscow

Recall that Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced on November 26 the extension of the restrictive measures imposed due to the spread of coronavirus infection until January 15.

According to the decree, metropolitan enterprises and organizations are required to provide remote operation for at least 30% of their staff.

Also, residents over 65 and citizens with chronic diseases are still encouraged to stay at home.

The work of children's leisure facilities has been temporarily suspended.