Trade Union Forum

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POLITICAL SYSTEM

General Information

The Russian Federation is a federal presidential-parliamentary republic.
The supreme legislative body is the bicameral Federal Assembly.
Supreme leadership – President – Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (was re-elected in 2024)
State power is divided into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

One of the key policy directions is the implementation of import substitution in key industries such as aircraft construction, and stimulating the birth rate through demographic support measures.

Constitutional System

The Russian Federation is a democratic federal legal state with a republican form of government. The constitutional system of the country is based on the principles of sovereignty, citizenship, human dignity, social values, free enterprise, and political pluralism.

Legislative power belongs to the bicameral Federal Assembly, which includes the State Duma ("lower house") and the Federation Council ("upper house").

The Federation Council includes two representatives from each subject of the Russian Federation: one from the representative and the other from the executive body of state power. Main powers of the "upper house": approval of federal laws; approval of changes in borders between subjects of the Russian Federation; appointment of elections of the President of the Russian Federation and his removal, etc.

The State Duma is elected for a term of five years and consists of 450 deputies. A citizen of the Russian Federation who has reached the age of 21 and has the right to participate in elections may be elected as a deputy. Main powers: adoption of federal laws; approval of the candidate nominated by the president for the position of Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation; hearing annual reports of the Government of the Russian Federation on the results of its activities, etc.

The same person cannot simultaneously be a member of the Federation Council and a deputy of the State Duma.

Executive power in the Russian Federation is exercised by the Government of the Russian Federation, consisting of the Chairman and his deputies, as well as federal ministers. The Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation is appointed by the head of state with the consent of the State Duma and resigns before the newly elected President. The Government of the Russian Federation ensures the implementation of a unified financial, credit, and monetary policy, manages federal property, implements measures to ensure the country's defense and legality, the rights and freedoms of citizens, etc.

Judicial power in the Russian Federation is exercised by courts represented by judges, jurors, or arbitration assessors in the manner established by law. No other bodies or persons may administer justice.

The Russian Federation has a Constitutional Court that ensures protection of the foundations of the constitutional system and resolution of other tasks of constitutional control.

Local self-government in the Russian Federation ensures independent resolution by the population of issues of local significance, ownership, use, and disposal of municipal property, and is carried out by citizens through referendums and elections.

Labor Relations

Labor relations are regulated in accordance with the Constitution, updated in 2022, and the Labor Code of the Russian Federation of 2001, which establish such norms as working hours, ensuring safe working conditions, social payments and pension contributions, mandatory leave, etc.

The Russian Federation has a developed system of social partnership. At the level of the state as a whole and subjects of the Russian Federation, tripartite commissions operate, which include representatives of state authorities, employer organizations, and trade unions. The sphere of competence of social partnership bodies includes issues of social and labor relations in the corresponding territory. The country has a system of all-Russian, sectoral, regional, and territorial agreements, as well as collective agreements at enterprises, through which the most important aspects of social and labor relations are regulated.

The Russian Federation has been one of the countries participating in the International Labour Organization since its founding on June 28, 1919. By 2025, the Russian Federation had ratified 73 ILO conventions.

Trade Unions

In the Russian Federation, the formation of trade unions is regulated by a number of federal laws: the law of 19.05.1995 N 82-FZ (as amended on 30.12.2020) "On Public Associations", the federal law "On Trade Unions, Their Rights and Guarantees of Activity" (January 12, 1996 No. 10-FZ), the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, etc. Trade unions in Russia are free from political control or party influence.

In the Russian Federation, most major sectoral trade unions are united in the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FNPR), founded on March 23, 1990. It includes 122 member organizations, including territorial associations of trade unions in each subject of the Russian Federation. The ranks of sectoral trade unions included in the FNPR number more than 20 million people. There are other national trade union centers in the Russian Federation, of smaller size.

The FNPR program is called "For a Fair Economy!".

Main goals of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia:

  • Decent wages;
  • Ensuring employment of the population;
  • Formation of a reliable social insurance system;
  • Development of social partnership – cooperation of workers, employers, and the state;
  • Legal protection of workers;
  • Gender equality at enterprises;
  • Cooperation with international trade union organizations.