The State Council considered the implementation of the demographic standard.

      September 29, 2025 18:04 Society

      At a meeting of the State Council commission on the "Family" portfolio, held on September 26 in Moscow under the chairmanship of the head of Mordovia, Artem Zdunov, the implementation of a corporate demographic standard and measures to support student families with children at universities were discussed.

      Artem Zdunov recalled that last week the first meeting of the commission's working group responsible for supporting working parents and developing corporate family policy took place, at which a number of practical initiatives were approved.

      According to Zdunov, sociological studies show that alongside income levels and housing availability, a significant constraint on birth-rate growth remains the need to combine parenting with professional fulfillment. In the face of demographic challenges and labor shortages, he emphasized, it is increasingly important for employers to develop effective tools of corporate demographic policy.

      It was also stated at the meeting that many Russian regions, with the participation of businesses, trade unions and business associations, are enshrining unified standards of support for childbirth in tripartite agreements and collective agreements. At the same time, regional practice is uneven, and the level of assistance provided by enterprises varies significantly. Among the most sought-after corporate measures are flexible work arrangements, additional benefit packages for pregnant, young and large-family employees, assistance in acquiring housing, support for employees' children's education, as well as the organization of children's and family recreation.

      First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Russia Olga Batalina, in her report, focused on the progress of implementing the corporate demographic standard in the regions and the results obtained. She stressed that, in addition to federal and regional decisions, it is important to involve employers in supporting women who are planning the birth of another child. From January 1, 2026, the maximum amount of the one-time payment to such employees will increase to 1 million rubles. No personal income tax (NDFL) will be withheld from these sums and no insurance contributions will be accrued.

      In addition, such support can now be classified as non-operating expenses that reduce taxable profit. The Ministry of Labor has also prepared changes to the Rules for awarding the unified benefit: it is proposed not to count corporate one-time payments when calculating average per capita income so that they do not become an obstacle to awarding the benefit.

      It was previously reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed replicating the experience of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast in demographic policy. He said this at a meeting in Sarov with Governor Gleb Nikitin.

      The head of the region told Putin that since late 2024 the region has been implementing the "Osnova" program. It combines a package of financial and non-financial measures; financial support is particularly important when working with women who are hesitant and are considering terminating a pregnancy.

      The governor said that families in which a child was born on or after July 1 receive a "Newborn Gift" — a certificate for 20,000 rubles for purchasing children's goods. Additionally, the region has launched the "Emergency Demographic Assistance" program: specialized professionals provide psychological support to women with postpartum depression, infertility problems, family crises and other difficult situations. Assistance is available regardless of registration, including to residents of remote areas — via video link.

      Vladimir Putin assessed these practices as promising, emphasizing that "good programs should be discussed in the government and the administration and replicated," and expressed confidence that they would yield noticeable results.

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