According to the Federal State Statistics Service, in 2019, only 30 thousand people worked remotely on an official basis out of 67.1 million people employed. Lawmakers decided to change this situation. According to the Ministry of Labour, 6 million Russians switched to remote work during the coronavirus pandemic. However, the legislation does not sufficiently regulate this area, although the Labour Code contains an article on remote employment.
Meanwhile, the lawmakers decided to distinguish the concepts of remote and distance work by the second reading. So, remote work is similar to the mode and schedule of work in the office. And distance work is freelance, which involves a simplified approach.
By the second reading, one more requirement for the remote workers may be introduced — the need to notify the employer of the worker’s location.
The final document is planned to be adopted by the end of the year to come into force on January 1.