what is known, who will be affected by the restrictions: Society: Russia: Lenta.ru

Ministry of Health of Russia wants from September 1, 2025 enter a new procedure for issuing sick leave, it will affect those who are often sick. The draft order is posted on the regulatory legal acts portal.

As follows from the appendix to the text of the order, from September 1 next year, a restriction will be introduced for Russians who have been declared incapable of work four or more times within six months. A certificate of incapacity for work will be issued to these citizens for a period of up to three calendar days; its extension is possible only by decision of the medical commission. In accordance with current legislation, the attending physician issues sick leave for up to 15 days, the dentist and paramedic – up to 10.

However, the innovations will not apply to sick leave to care for a family member, medical rehabilitation, cases with socially significant diseases or those requiring renal replacement therapy.

The Ministry of Health explained the need for changes

The Russian Ministry of Health proposed changing the procedure for generating sick leave in November. Medics want to oblige transfer to the medical commission documents about a patient who has issued a certificate of incapacity for work four times in six months.

The department explained that this practice will improve the provision of medical care to able-bodied citizens. The data obtained will make it possible to identify diseases at an early stage and carry out prevention so that the employee can return to work. For example, this applies to employees from the so-called risk group for the development of certain diseases.

In Russia it was proposed to exempt payments for sick leave from tax

initiative offered Chairman of the party “A Just Russia – For Truth” (SRZP) Sergei Mironov and first deputy head of the committee on budget and taxes Alexander Remezkov. Mironov pointed out that in 2023, Russians were paid temporary disability benefits in the amount of 600 billion rubles, of which they had to pay income tax. In this regard, the NWRP proposed changes to the Tax Code. According to current regulations, all state benefits are exempt from taxes, except for payments for temporary disability.

The explanatory note notes that this benefit is not income, but compensation in case of inability to work. Citizens already cannot receive their usual earnings in the current life situation, Remezkov recalled. The government, however, didn't support faction bill. They stated that conceptually, the SRZP proposal to strengthen the social protection of various categories of citizens does not raise objections, but there is a nuance.

“Temporary disability benefit [направлено] to compensate citizens for lost earnings (payments, rewards), that is, income that, as a general rule, is subject to taxation, and therefore the proposed change is not entirely correct,” the document says.