Russian Civic Chamber member proposes leave for fathers from childbirth

Sergey Rybalchenko, who chairs the Russian Civic Chamber’s family affairs commission, proposed separate leave for fathers beginning at childbirth alongside the mother’s maternity leave.

Rybalchenko made the proposal on October 16 at a Russian Union of Families meeting marking Father’s Day. He said the additional leave should begin immediately after birth rather than after the mother’s postnatal leave ends.

He said perinatal centres were not available in every town, requiring men to accompany expectant mothers to neighbouring locations and making it difficult to keep working.

According to Rybalchenko, one Saransk company already offers a month of leave that a father can take at childbirth or later during the year. He presented that practice as a model for supporting families.