The new year has begun, and that means that lots of laws and statutes came into effect on January 1, 2015. Some of them were passed just days before the clock hit twelve on a special night, while others – over a year prior to that. Here’s an overview of some of them:
- Federal Law of the Russian Federation N 384-FZ of December 1, 2014 On the Federal Budget for the Year of 2015 and the Target Period of 2016 and 2017
This law forecasts Russian GDP for the year of 2015 to be 77.498 trillion rubles (which is a little over $1.25 trillion calculated at today’s exchange rate where 1USD = 61.95 rub), and the inflation not to exceed 5.5%. The general federal income in 2015 is estimated to be 15.082 trillion rubles (or $242 billion), while the federal spendings are calculated at 15.513 trillion rubles. This puts Russia at almost $7 billion over budget right at the start of the year. Sadly, the current political and economical instability is to blame in a lot of ways, though we are still yet to see how things turn out in practice against the forecast.
- Federal Law of the Russian Federation N 442-FZ of December 28, 2013 On the Foundations of Providing Social Services to Citizens in the Russian Federation
This law establishes:
– legal, organizational and economic foundations of providing social services to citizens in Russia;
– powers of federal agencies and agencies of the Russian Federation constituent entities in the field of providing social services to citizens;
– rights and responsibilities of the recipients of social services;
– rights and responsibilities of providers of social services.
One major change introduced by this law is allowing commercial legal entities along with non-profit and governmental institutions to provide social services to citizens.
- Federal Law of the Russian Federation N 74-FZ of April 20, 2014 On Amending the Federal Law On the Legal Status of Alien Citizens in the Russian Federation
This amendment places a special focus on their knowledge of Russia by alien citizens applying for a work permit, residence permit or a patent on the territory of Russia. Such knowledge extends to Russian language skills, Russian history and Russian legislation. All applicants must provide documents confirming their close familiarity with the above starting 2015.
- Federal Law of the Russian Federation N 260-FZ of July 21, 2014 On Amending Article 34 of the Russian Federation Law On the Subsoil
This law adds one provision to the present Law on the Subsoil: any natural person deemed by Russian Federation Government to have participated in a discovery of an prior unknown mineral deposit field sponsored by the budgets of USSR or RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic) shall be entitled to a monetary compensation. In other words, the Russian Government has decided to pay its tribute to some of those who earlier contributed to the development of the oil and gas industry that has been Russia’s top line of income for many years now.
- Federal Law of the Russian Federation N 480-FZ of December 1, 2014 On Amending Article 1 of the Federal Law On the Minimum Wage Rate
This law establishes the national minimum wage rate in Russia at 5 965 rubles per month – which again appears drastically low when converted to dollars due to the recent exchange rate drop at just below one hundred American dollars. Though, this of course must be compared against the cost of living in Russia, which in so many places all across the country is much lower than that in America.
There are lots and lots of other amendments that were made effective on the first day of this year, including those concerning education, maternity, anti-corruption policies, medical insurance, and much more.
Source – Rossiyskaya Gazeta. Prepared and written by Veronica Zubrilina (International Institute of Administration, Class of 2011)
