Russia prepares new labor protection bill for military operation participants

A new legislative proposal aimed at strengthening labor protections for mobilized citizens is set to be introduced in the Russian State Duma. The draft law, presented by Yaroslav Nilov, chairman of the parliamentary committee on labor, social policy, and veterans’ affairs, seeks to establish additional guarantees for participants in the military operation, particularly in situations involving staff reductions.

According to the explanatory note attached to the bill, the initiative is designed to enhance the social protection of individuals who carried out military tasks during mobilization, martial law or military conflict conditions. The proposal grants these citizens a preferential right to retain their jobs if their company undergoes restructuring or staff cuts.

Currently, the Russian Labor Code does not provide such protections for employees returning to their workplace after mobilization. Nilov emphasized that this legislative gap must be addressed, noting that individuals returning from the special military operation should receive “maximum social guarantees”, including job security.

On November 13, lawmakers also introduced a separate bill that would grant veterans of the military operation the right to unpaid leave, a measure intended to support their reintegration into civilian life.

In recent months, Russian authorities have expanded support programs for veterans, including initiatives allowing them to open small businesses with the help of state-funded social contracts. Officials argue that strengthening protections for these individuals is essential, given their role in fulfilling military duties.

The newly proposed bill on labor guarantees is seen as a significant step toward modernizing the system of social protection and closing loopholes in current legislation. If adopted, it will substantially change termination procedures and provide mobilized citizens with an essential safety net in the labor market.