Employers in Russia will be barred from setting probation periods for mothers raising children under three years old starting Sept. 1, 2026. Evgeny Masharov, a member of a commission of the Civic Chamber of Russia, announced the legal change to RIA Novosti.
Labor Code amendments
The change is established under Federal Law No. 91-FZ of April 9, 2026, which amends Article 70 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation. Russian law currently prohibits probation periods only for women with children up to one and a half years old.
Masharov recommended that employers review their internal documentation setting probation conditions before the new rules take effect.
In separate comments, Ismail Ismailov, candidate of legal sciences and deputy chairman of the Council of Young Scientists at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, noted that employment on maternity cover is a temporary measure with a risk of job loss, but also an opportunity to gain experience under tough competition.
