Russian Duma approves amendments to preserve jobs of those mobilized in the war in Ukraine

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Russia’s State Duma, the lower house of the country’s parliament, on Tuesday approved a series of amendments aimed at preserving the jobs of those mobilized to participate in the war in Ukraine, a decree approved last week by Russian President Vladimir Putin that has led to protests.

According to reports carried by the Russian news agency Interfax, the amendments to the Labor Code provide that, in the event that an employee is called up as part of the “partial mobilization,” his or her job will be suspended during the period of military service, during which time the company may hire another person on a temporary basis.

Thus, the amendments provide that the termination of the employee’s contract during this period is ruled out, with the exception of cases of dissolution of an enterprise or termination of activities by the employer, as well as in case of expiration of the employee’s contract period.

During the period of contract suspension due to mobilization, the employee retains his or her labor rights, while additional guarantees are included for family members such as that they cannot be sent on business trips or work overtime, night or weekend hours, with a preference in retaining their jobs in the event of downsizing.

Andrei Turchak, secretary of the General Council of United Russia, Putin’s party, stressed last week that the aim of the amendments is to ensure that “after demobilization, the serviceman can return to the same organization and the same position he held before starting military service under contract or by mobilization.”

Putin framed the decision to decree a “partial mobilization” in the country as “necessary and urgent measures to protect the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Russia” and warned that Moscow will use “all means” in case of a “threat to the Russian territorial integrity.” “This is not a bluff,” he maintained.

For his part, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu detailed that about 300,000 reservists will be called up and noted that this “partial mobilization” will affect 1.1 percent of the country’s mobilization resources.