Remote options, health care: the Ministry of Labor announced innovations in the Labor Code

November 19, MINSK. Today, at a meeting of the National Council for Labor and Social Issues, the approaches enshrined in the draft Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Amending Laws on Labor Relations" were approved. The document provides for amendments and additions to the Labor Code. Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection Igor Starovoitov told a BelTA correspondent about the most notable innovations proposed by the department.

New in remote work

New approaches to the regulation of remote work are proposed. The Labor Code is supplemented by the rules that remote work can be not only permanent, but also temporary (no more than six months in a calendar year), and also carried out by alternating work remotely and at the workplace in an organization (combined work).

"The employer and the employee will be able to reach an agreement on the conditions of such work both when applying for a job and during the period of employment," Igor Starovoitov specified.

The implementation of remote work will not require amendments to the employment contract and will be carried out on the basis of the order of the employer. But the condition on the performance of combined work will have to be included in the employment contract.

Additional measures to protect the HEALTH of workers

According to the Deputy Minister, the new article of the bill provides for the right of an employee to be released from work to undergo medical examination while maintaining the average earnings at the place of employment. The number of days off from work will be determined depending on the age of the person.

"Such a right will be exercised by the employee submitting an application. At the same time, the day of release from work will be agreed between him and the employer," added Igor Starovoitov.

After all medical examinations, employees will be required to provide the employer with documents confirming their medical examination.

Flexible approaches when using the right to a paid day off per week

In the Labor Code, such more flexible approaches apply to parents raising three or more children under the age of 16 or a disabled child under the age of 18.

The innovation is that now it is possible, at the request of the employee and in agreement with the employer, instead of one free day a week, to establish for the employee a reduced duration of work (shift) for one hour with the same salary.

Expansion of rights in terms of compensation for working conditions

The right of an employee employed in work with harmful and (or) dangerous working conditions is established, at his request, to receive monetary compensation instead of MILK or equivalent food products.

"Changes in the Labor Code were developed by an interdepartmental working group. Along with government bodies, representatives of trade unions and employers' associations took an active part in the preparation of the bill," Igor Starovoitov emphasized.