Overtime and holiday waivers: Russia wants to gear the economy to war

With two new draft laws, Russia is taking a big step towards a war economy.

Overtime and holiday waivers: Russia wants to gear the economy to war

With two new draft laws, Russia is taking a big step towards a war economy. The Kremlin should be able to oblige companies to supply goods and services to the military. Employees could also be forced to work overtime and waive vacation time.

Russia's parliament paves the way for rebuilding a war-focused economy. The lower house approved two bills in the first reading. These would allow the government to oblige the companies to supply the military with much-needed goods. Employees could also be forced to work overtime and take vacations to support the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has been ongoing since February 24.

Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borissov said in the Duma that the measures were necessary to help the military at a time when Russia's economy was under "enormous sanction pressure" from the West. "The burden on the defense industry has increased significantly. In order to ensure the supply of weapons and ammunition, it is necessary to optimize the work of the military-industrial sector and the companies that are part of the cooperation chains."

One of the bills provides that the state can take "special economic measures" during aggressive wars. They could oblige companies to supply goods and services to the military at the behest of the government. A statement accompanying the bill said the military needed new materials and weapon repairs to continue its Ukraine campaign. "The need to promptly comply with these requirements, particularly in relation to sanctions against Russia and Russian legal entities, will require us to temporarily focus our efforts on certain sectors of the economy," the statement said. For this purpose, the state procurement of defense equipment must be organized.

A second draft provides for an amendment to the Labor Code. This would give the government the right to regulate working hours and set days off in certain companies. Workers who produce goods for the military could then be forced to work nights, weekends and holidays, and no annual leave. Both bills were tabled by the Russian government in the State Duma. They have yet to go through the second and third readings, be considered by the House of Lords and signed by President Vladimir Putin.