Russia may introduce guaranteed hourly wage for part-time workers

A proposal has been put forward in Russia to introduce a minimum hourly wage, with a corresponding bill expected to be submitted to the State Duma, according to Russian media.

The initiative предусматривает amendments to the Russian Labour Code, including the annual establishment of a minimum hourly wage alongside the minimum wage. Under the draft law, the hourly rate cannot be lower than the value derived from the minimum wage and would be subject to the same state guarantees that currently apply to the minimum wage. The minimum hourly wage would be calculated based on the average monthly number of working hours.

The proposal comes amid a growing trend among employers to reduce labour costs by hiring workers on part-time or partial employment contracts. These employees are typically paid on an hourly basis, calculated from the minimum wage, which often results in incomes significantly below the subsistence minimum.

Lawmakers argue that introducing a minimum hourly wage set each year would help ensure fair pay and strengthen social protections for part-time workers. State Duma deputy Dmitry Svishchev said the measure would allow employees working reduced hours to receive not just a fraction of the minimum wage, but their pay rate multiplied by the established minimum hourly wage.

By Tamilla Hasanova