Bashkortostan pays for 84,000 days off for parents of disabled children

In the Russian republic of Bashkortostan, the regional branch of the Social Fund (SFR) has directed more than 497 million rubles since the start of the year to pay for four additional days off per month for parents, guardians and custodians of children with disabilities. Employees of 1114 organisations in the republic have used the option to take children to doctors, for examinations and other necessary appointments.

A family may take four such days a month, or 48 a year, regardless of the number of children with disabilities. Unused days can be accumulated and taken at once, up to 24 consecutive days off. However, the days do not carry over to the next year and are not compensated in money; they must be used by the end of the calendar year.

According to Fanil Vakhitov, head of the SFR branch in Bashkortostan, a working parent can use the entitlement even if the other parent is not employed. If both parents work, the days can be divided, for example two days each. To receive the days off, an employee must submit an application to their employer and attach a certificate from the second parent's workplace stating how many days they used or whether they used none.