The 30-Hour Working Week for Parents with Many Children

Legal status of this provision (August 2026). The specific right to a 30-hour working week for parents of three or more children under 18 is currently a legislative proposal being considered by the State Duma; it has not yet come into force. The current Part 2 of Article 93 of the Labour Code (as amended by Federal Law No. 372-FZ of 19.11.2021) provides a mandatory right to reduced working hours for parents of children under 14. This article describes both the proposed provisions and the rights available under current law. We will update the article once the amendments are enacted.

What the Proposed Amendment Would Provide

A bill currently before the State Duma would extend Article 93 of the Labour Code to give employees who are parents (or adoptive parents, or guardians) of three or more children under 18 the right to request reduced working hours.

Parameters of the proposed benefit:

• Duration — no more than 30 working hours per week (instead of the standard 40).
• Pay — proportional to hours worked. This is not a preserved full salary; pay is calculated on actual hours worked.
• Period — until the youngest child turns 18 years old.

Current Law: Article 93(2) of the Labour Code

Until the proposed amendment for large families comes into force, the existing rule applies: at the request of a parent of a child under 14 (or a disabled child under 18), the employer is obliged to set reduced working hours — Part 2 of Article 93 of the Labour Code, as amended by Federal Law No. 372-FZ of 19.11.2021. The exact hours are agreed between the parties; the law does not cap them at 30.

If you have three or more children and the youngest is under 14, you already have the right to demand reduced hours today.

A Right, Not a Favour (Current Law)

For parents of children under 14: this is the employee’s statutory right, not a discretionary decision by the employer. The employer is obliged to comply. A refusal violates Part 2 of Article 93 of the Labour Code.

Exceptions are narrow: if the employee has not claimed the benefit, or if the work schedule objectively cannot accommodate reduced hours due to genuine production requirements.

How to Apply

1. Submit a written application to the employer. State: the legal basis — Article 93 of the Labour Code; the family composition; the ages of the children; the desired working-time schedule.
2. Attach supporting documents: children’s birth certificates and, where applicable, adoption or guardianship documents.
3. The employer must formalise the change as a supplementary agreement to the employment contract.

What to Do If Refused

• Submit the written request again and ask for a written refusal with stated grounds.
• File a complaint with the State Labour Inspectorate (GIT).
• If necessary, go to court. Courts grant claims for the establishment of reduced working hours.

Nuances: Pay and Annual Leave

Switching to a 30-hour week reduces pay proportionally. However, employment record and the right to annual leave (28 calendar days) are fully preserved — part-time work does not reduce holiday entitlement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an employer currently obliged to grant a large-family parent a 30-hour week? Under current Part 2 of Article 93 of the Labour Code, yes — if you have a child under 14 (regardless of how many children you have in total). The specific provision for parents of three or more children under 18 with a 30-hour cap is still a legislative proposal and has not yet come into force.

Does full salary continue at reduced hours? No. Pay is proportional to hours worked. However, annual leave entitlement (28 calendar days) and length of service are fully preserved — part-time work does not reduce your holiday entitlement or seniority.

Can I demand reduced hours if I have three children and the youngest is 12? Yes — right now, under current Part 2 of Article 93 of the Labour Code. Having a child under 14 gives you an unconditional right to part-time hours. The exact schedule (for example, 30 or 35 hours per week) is agreed with the employer.

What if the employer refuses verbally? Submit a written application citing Part 2 of Article 93 of the Labour Code, and ask for a written refusal with stated grounds. A written refusal is the basis for a complaint to the State Labour Inspectorate and a court claim.

Read Also

• Redundancy: Vacant Positions Must Be Offered From the Date of the Decision, Not Two Months Later
• Workplace Fines Are Illegal: Why Salary Deductions by Employer Order Violate the Labour Code

Is your employer refusing to switch you to a 30-hour working week despite your having three children? Contact us for a consultation — we will help draft the application and, if needed, defend your rights in court.