Agenda: paid sick leaves for self-employed citizens, budgetary allocations for pensions and socially significant expenses in the new regions, and additional allocations to cover the damages of agricultural producers in the Belgorod Region.
Mikhail Mishustin: Good afternoon, colleagues.
Government meeting
Today the Government will discuss a number of issues related to social protection. As the President pointed out, it must be prompt and targeted, with the necessary procedures and legal framework adjusted to people’s requirements and interests as much as possible.
Today, we will discuss amendments to legislation under which self-employed citizens will be able to receive paid sick leaves for temporary disability starting next year. For this purpose, they will have an opportunity, starting on 1 January next year, to take out a voluntary insurance at the Social Fund and to transfer the necessary monthly contributions to it.
I would like to emphasise that the decision will be up to the self-employed persons themselves. In case of a positive decision, they will receive allowances in case of illness or injury and will be able to set the ceiling at 35,000 or 50,000 roubles for the given year. The precise sum will be based on the length of service and other parameters.
Three are millions of self-employed people in Russia working under a special tax regime. However, their income often depends on the number of contracts they fulfill, and health problems can mean financial damage and the loss of income. A voluntary insurance is a way to protect oneself in such situations. A paid sick leave will provide the necessary financial support, especially since the payments are not large, of the order of 1,300 or about 1,900 roubles a month. If a self-employed persons works without going on sick leaves for over 18 months, the sum can be reduced.
It is planned that this procedure will be used in the pilot mode until the end of 2028.
I would like to ask the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to closely monitor readiness for launching this system on time. All the procedures must be simple and understandable. People’s convenience is an absolute priority for us.
We will also discuss a number of issues related to support for the regions today.
The country recently marked a memorable date. The Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions became the constituent entities of the Russian Federation three years ago.
The President emphasises the fact that we will do everything possible to revive the economy, restore the infrastructure in the new regions and to build schools, other education institutions, hospitals and outpatient clinics there. The Government works systemically in this field. We renovate and build housing and roads, kindergartens and medical clinics. Industrial enterprises and organisations obtain essential preferences.
And, of course, we focus on residents of the new regions. From 2023, they receive pensions, social and lump-sum payments in accordance with Russian standards. This includes sick leaves, children’s benefits, maternity leave benefits, child-care benefits and those for disabled persons and veterans. Additionally, we will now allocate over 8.5 billion roubles for the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. The funding will primarily be used for pension payments. This decision will help the budgets of these territories completely fulfill their social obligations.
Here is another issue of our agenda.
The President has noted the need for urgent measures and additional assistance for border region, including the Belgorod Region. This includes efforts to rescue people, protect property and resume the work of enterprises.
Earlier this year, we set aside three billion roubles to reimburse agrarian and industrial organisations for their losses. This will allow them to retain their skilled staffs and production potential and to resume operations.
Today, we will provide agricultural producers with almost one billion roubles for these purposes.
It is important that they receive this funding quickly and without delays. Fall-time field works are currently nearing completion in the safest territories, and it is necessary to prepare for the new season. We hope that these measures will allow them to collect bumper harvests in the future.
