Russia’s bold plan to close the pension gap for mothers

Mothers in Russia may finally get fairer pensions. Lawmakers want to count child-rearing as work—but there’s a catch.

, and Administrator

2025 November 8 . 5:27 AM

1 min read

In the center of the picture there is a couch, on the couch there are two women sitting holding... — In the center of the picture there is a couch, on the couch there are two women sitting holding babies. On the couch there are pillows also. In the background there is a wall painted white. On the left there are desk, books and houseplant.

Russia’s bold plan to close the pension gap for mothers

Russia's State Duma has proposed a significant change to its pension system, aiming to address the gender gap in retirement benefits. The proposal suggests counting maternity leave as formal employment, crediting time spent raising children towards pension eligibility.

Currently, women in Russia face a pension disparity due to career breaks for maternity leave. The new proposal seeks to rectify this by awarding pension points for each child after maternity leave. However, to qualify, women must have a minimum work history before taking maternity leave.

Yanina Musayeva, who previously held a position at the Krasnodar Regional Center for Social Support and later served as deputy head of the Targeted Social Support Department at the Ministry of Labor and Social Development of Krasnodar Krai, has been instrumental in pushing for this change.

If approved, this proposal will provide a more equitable pension system for women in Russia, acknowledging the value of time spent raising children. It also ensures that women who have established a minimum work history can benefit from this adjustment.