Russian Government Commission approved doubling the overtime limit in Russia

The Government Commission on legislative activities approved a bill amending the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, which includes doubling the overtime limit from the current 120 hours to 240 hours per year, a source familiar with the commission’s decision told Interfax. The bill proposes comprehensive changes to the labor legislation of the Russian Federation, allowing for the possibility of increasing the duration of overtime work to 240 hours per year if stipulated in a collective agreement or industry agreement. The explanatory note to the bill, seen by Interfax, states that approximately 90% of Russian citizens are willing to engage in overtime work, according to sociological surveys.
The note also mentions that the bill outlines an increase in the maximum number of employees with whom fixed-term labor contracts can be concluded by small business entities, from 35 to 70 people. The bill, developed by the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Labor, is expected to come into force on March 1, 2026.