The key facts

  • Sergey Mironov proposed moving four working days from winter to May to bridge the gap between the May 1–3 and May 8–10 days off
  • Yelena Tsunayeva said the issue had already been rejected and there are no new arguments
  • She noted that the New Year days off coincide with school vacations as a bonus for families

The idea of rescheduling days off failed to gain support

The State Duma declined to back the idea of extending the May holidays by redistributing January's public holidays. Yelena Tsunayeva, a member of the State Duma Committee on Labour, Social Policy and Veterans' Affairs, told NSN that there is no point in 'stirring things up', and that anyone wishing to close the gap in the May holidays can take vacation days or time off for those dates, Gazeta.Ru reports.

Arguments against the changes

According to Tsunayeva, this issue has already been discussed and rejected — it is worth returning to only if new arguments emerge, and so far there are none. She also noted that the upcoming New Year holidays coincide with school vacations, calling this a useful bonus for families, so there is no need to change the schedule.

What Mironov proposed

The initiative came from State Duma deputy Sergey Mironov: he proposed moving part of the New Year holidays to May. In his view, four working days in May between the days off of May 1–3 and May 8–10 could be moved to winter — between New Year and Christmas. Mironov stressed that for many people — for example, rural residents and dacha owners — long days off in May are more useful, because their household feeds them, and late spring is the very time for sowing and planting.

Why there is no universal solution

Tsunayeva pointed out that, in her experience, no universal solution exists: some people have dachas, some have elderly parents, some have children — 'there will always be those who are dissatisfied'. She recalled that in essential sectors and on rotational shift work, days off during holidays are not provided at all — employees are instead paid compensation and offered other rest options. According to her, she has not received a single appeal from citizens or employers about the need for changes on this issue.