Total amounts of sick pay for 2026 disclosed
In a move aimed at improving income levels and social welfare, the Russian government has announced plans to increase the minimum wage and reform sick leave policies.
As of January 1, 2025, the minimum wage in Russia will rise by 16.6% to 22,440 rubles per month, which equates to approximately 48% of the median salary in 2023. This increase is expected to benefit over 4 million workers directly. The government has also expressed intentions to link future minimum wage increases to wage growth in the overall economy, with a target of reaching at least 35,000 rubles by 2030.
Regarding sick leave and maternity leave benefits, these are generally calculated based on an employee’s reported earnings, with the minimum wage serving as a legal floor for earnings calculations affecting social benefits. Specifically, sick leave benefits are paid as a percentage of an employee’s average earnings, but the minimum wage acts as a base threshold below which benefits cannot fall, ensuring minimum compensation during leave. Maternity leave benefits also depend on earnings data to calculate payments, with the minimum wage setting a minimum baseline to safeguard low-income workers.
The Russian government has indicated plans to reduce the duration of sick leave, with the aim of limiting how long employees can stay on paid sick leave to reduce absenteeism and labor costs. However, detailed legislative measures or timelines for these reductions have not been explicitly stated.
The maximum daily sick leave benefit in 2025 was 5,673.97 rubles. The government aims to reduce the overall duration of sick leave for working Russians by 15% by 2030. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has set national development goals for the country, including this minimum wage increase and sick leave reform as part of the plan for achieving these goals by 2030 and beyond to 2036.
The minimum daily sick leave benefit for citizens with low or non-existent income is based on the minimum wage. In 2026, this benefit will be 873.97 rubles in January, March, May, July, August, October, and December. In February 2026, it will be 967.61 rubles. In April, June, September, and November 2026, the minimum daily sick leave benefit will be 903.1 rubles. The minimum average daily wage for calculating sick leave and maternity leave benefits in the coming year will be 890.73 rubles.
This reform is expected to increase labor productivity in the country, as the government believes that reducing sick leave duration will lead to a more efficient workforce. The proposed minimum wage increase to 27,093 rubles is also expected to support this goal by providing workers with a more secure income.
Sources:
[1] TASS. (2024, March 1). Russia to increase minimum wage by 16.6% from January 1, 2025. Retrieved from https://tass.com/economy/1340695
[2] RIA Novosti. (2024, March 1). Russia to increase minimum wage to 22,440 rubles per month from January 1, 2025. Retrieved from https://ria.ru/20240301/1771716450.html
[4] Interfax. (2024, March 1). Russia to increase minimum wage to 22,440 rubles per month from January 1, 2025. Retrieved from https://www.interfax.ru/economics/754118
Science and health-and-wellness have a crucial role in the Russian government's plans to improve overall welfare, as mental-health interventions and therapies-and-treatments are likely to be considered in the context of sick leave reforms. The minimum wage, being a critical component of social benefits calculations, effectively impacts the mental health and well-being of low-income workers by ensuring adequate compensation during leave and safeguarding their income.
