Russia Finalizes Groundbreaking Legislation: Housewives Officially Recognized as Gainfully Employed, Maternity Leave Fully Counted Toward Pension Entitlements
No more gaps in retirement provisions for raising the next generation.
This is genuine support for women and families.
This new legislation aims to provide real support for women and families by ensuring that time spent raising children is recognized as part of a formal work history. The bill, which is being prepared for final reading, requires that women have worked at least briefly before their first maternity leave to qualify. The State Duma has proposed counting motherhood toward pension service without restrictions, even if a mother chooses to fully dedicate herself to family care. This development builds on existing protections, such as the right to three years of maternity leave with job preservation and partial pay, and the ability for either parent to take leave to care for a child. Additionally, recent reforms have expanded support, including increased maternity subsidies in 2025 and plans to extend the maternity benefits program until 2030.
