OREANDA-NEWS. The State Duma approved a bill in its third reading for amending the remuneration procedure for highly qualified specialists (HQS).

The proposed amendments foresee paying HQS, who are scientists and teachers, no less than RUB 83,500 per month, or RUB 1 million per year. Foreign nationals, who are deemed to be HQS and employed as residents of a special economic zone (technical implementation type) should be paid RUB 58,500 per month, rather than RUB 700,000 per year. Other HQS, whose annual income shall not be less than RUB 2 million, should be paid at least RUB 167,000 every month.

In addition, the bill provides for changes in unpaid leave. If a HQS has a break in his/her work in Russia due to illness, unpaid leave or other circumstances, whereby the HQS' salary is not paid or not paid in full, the terms for employing him/her in Russia in regards to the salary amount shall be deemed as fulfilled if the aggregate amount of the salary for three calendar months during the reporting period equals triple the amount of the HQS' monthly salary.