State employees, officials, security forces, military: whose salaries will be indexed from October 1

The salary increase will affect millions of Russians

In October, the state will increase salaries for millions of Russians: state employees, officials, security forces, and the military. As a rule, it is in the second month of autumn that the government-planned salary indexation, carried out at the expense of the federal treasury, falls. Who exactly will receive what kind of increase – MK figured it out with the help of experts.

In the forefront of the “lucky” ones who will receive a raise are military personnel (including contract soldiers and conscripts) and law enforcement officers: from October 1, they will receive 10.5% more. Indexation will also affect official salaries and salaries for special ranks for persons belonging to the Russian Guard, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Penitentiary Service, the Federal Bailiff Service, the Federal Fire Service, and the Federal Customs Service. In addition, from October 1, military pensions will increase, according to the law adopted by the State Duma in 2022: they are increased simultaneously with the salaries of military personnel.

The indexation of salaries for law enforcement officers (1,105 times, or 10.5%) is almost double the current annual inflation rates, notes economist Andrei Loboda, director of communications at BitRiver. In addition, the average pension through the Ministry of Defense will increase to 42 thousand rubles, which is actually twice the cost of living in Moscow for the working population of 24,801 rubles. According to the expert, this indicates that the state is focusing on ensuring precisely these social categories, which is very logical, given the current geopolitical situation.

Also, according to a government decree signed in August, from October 1, the salaries of government employees will be indexed by 5.5%. As the Ministry of Labor explained, the decision applies to that part of the personnel that does not have the status of civil servants. The department clarified that we are talking about such categories as commandants, heads of office, stenographers, forwarders, cashiers and representatives of a number of other professions. In total there are 2.4 million civil servants in Russia. The indexation of their official salaries is included in the federal budget. It is planned to allocate 280 billion rubles for this in 2023-2025.

Of course, an increase of 5.5% cannot be called large, but for a considerable part of the population it should at least overcome the August rise in prices in the country, argues Andrei Loboda. In any case, these kinds of measures taken as part of the fight against inflation will be a good help for government officials. Which are clearly not among the highest paid.

“According to Article 134 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, the employer is obliged to ensure an increase in the level of real wages in connection with the increase in consumer prices for goods and services,” explains lawyer, senior managing partner of the law firm PG Partners Pyotr Gusyatnikov. – Government agencies, local governments, state and municipal institutions carry out wage indexation in the manner established by labor legislation. And other employers – in the manner established by the collective agreement, agreements, local regulations.”

That is, a citizen, if he works under an employment contract, cannot receive the same salary for years, notes Gusyatnikov. Accordingly, the state seeks to offset the reduction in real incomes of the population. According to the Central Bank’s forecasts, inflation at the end of 2023 will be about 7%. But, according to citizens’ feelings, it goes far beyond 10% and even 15%. Due to the earlier weakening of the ruble, prices for goods and services, in particular food, are rising, which is especially felt by public sector workers and pensioners.

As for cases of violations during wage indexation by government agencies, they, according to Gusyatnikov, are rare. Firstly, this is monitored, and secondly, fines from 30 thousand to 50 thousand rubles are provided for legal entities in accordance with Art. 5.27 Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. At the same time, an employee whose salary was not indexed along with everyone else can appeal to the labor inspectorate, the prosecutor’s office or the court to protect his rights.