Work hard, comrades: Labor Ministry opposes a six-hour “working paradise”

There is no need to reduce the working day to six hours in Russia, said Minister of Labor and Social Protection Anton Kotyakov. According to him, the current labor market conditions do not require such measures.

“Every initiative must have its prerequisites and rationale. As of today, given the current situation on the labor market, I don’t see any need to shorten the working day,” Kotyakov told journalists.

On December 10, Communist Party deputies Yuri Afonin, Georgy Kamnev, and Alexei Kurinny submitted to the State Duma a bill proposing a 30-hour work week — no more than six hours a day with a five-day schedule. The authors believe automation and scientific progress make this feasible.

According to the communists, such a measure would improve productivity, living standards, and give people more time for family and education, thereby supporting demographics. However, the Labor Ministry considers the initiative premature, reports RBC.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the introduction of a new tax deduction for families with children starting in 2026.​