As of September 1, the changes to the Labor Code regarding overtime pay will come into effect.
Photo: Svetlana MAKOVEEVA. Go to Photobank KP
OVERTIME WILL BE PAID IN A NEW WAY
From September 1, changes to the Labor Code regarding overtime pay come into force. It was like this: overtime was calculated based on the base salary. But often this is only a part of the income, and not even a large part: there are also bonuses, seniority bonuses, regional coefficients, etc. All this has “not yet” been taken into account. And it turned out that if a person earns 90 thousand a month, but his base salary is 30 thousand, and the rest comes from bonuses and allowances, then overtime is paid based on 30 thousand.
Now overtime should be calculated based on total earnings, taking into account all its components. That is, in our example, 90 thousand.
TAXI PASSENGERS WILL BE INSURED AT THE EXPENSE OF THE TAXI DRIVER
Taxi companies and self-employed taxi drivers are now required to take out additional insurance – carrier’s liability insurance (OSGOP). This is in addition to the MTPL for taxi drivers. What’s the difference? OSAGO covers only those cases when the accident occurred due to the fault of the taxi driver. And if a passenger is injured, the maximum compensation is 500 thousand rubles (even in case of death of the passenger). OSGOP covers all cases when a passenger and his property were not transported safely, regardless of who is at fault. And the compensation is within 2 million rubles.
In fact, taxi drivers were put on a par with other means of public transport. Both MTPL and OSGOP are also issued to the bus driver.
Although the innovation is aimed at increasing passenger safety, it has raised many questions. Experts fear that they will already want a lot from self-employed taxi drivers – just like large transport organisations – and that they will start to disappear into the shadows. Or the situation will develop according to the principle “the severity of Russian laws is compensated by the optionality of their implementation”.
In any case, we should not expect any changes from September onwards. Taxi drivers have 60 days to comply with the new legal requirements.
IN CLASS – WITHOUT MOBILE
With the start of this school year, a ban on the use of mobile phones or smart watches (which can receive messages and transfer calls) during school hours comes into force. “Google” on a mobile phone is also prohibited.
The devices may only be used in emergency situations, when there is a threat to the life or health of students and teachers.
In this way, it is hoped that discipline among schoolchildren will be improved. And that they will also stop depending on mobile cheat sheets.
How exactly the ban will work from a technical point of view – whether, for example, students will be forced to hand over their phones before class and will only be given to others during breaks, or whether it will simply be impossible to take them out of their bags – is decided independently by each school (presumably, after consulting with parents).
HONEY – ACCORDING TO GOST
From September 1, honey, bee bread and other bee products must comply with national technical standards and regulations. The quality and safety of such products must be in accordance with the laws of the Eurasian Economic Union.
Previously, it was determined solely by the All-Russian Product Classifier.
We translate it into understandable language. Now, only what is in compliance with national GOSTs and technical regulations of the EAEU can be called honey. The rest is just some sweet products. Previously, compliance with national standards and Eurasian regulations was voluntary. In this way, the authorities hope to strike a blow to counterfeiters. The Federation Council claims that in some regions the share of bee products that are not exclusively bee products reaches 70%.
“ILIMITED” WILL NOT DISCONNECT YOU WITHOUT ASKING
New rules for the provision of cellular communication services will come into force on 1 September: they are in effect for six years (they can then be revised again).
The main change is that the telecom operator, at its discretion, can only change the tariff, but not the tariff plan. The latter is with the written consent of the client. That is, the tariff rate can be increased. And the set of services included (number of calls, SMS, conditions of access to the Internet, etc.) cannot be changed without the consent of the subscriber.
A classic example: if the tariff plan included unlimited calls or unlimited Internet, that’s it, suddenly it is no longer possible to make this service “limited”.
THE DEBTOR-MORTGAGER WILL BE ABLE TO SELL THE APARTMENT HIMSELF
This innovation will go into effect on September 11 and is extremely important for those who have become so unable to pay their mortgage that no mortgage holiday will help them.
If the debt is due, the property pledged at the bank can be sold independently, without trial or auction. The main limitation is that you must inform the bank of your wish before it sues you. Another limitation is if the debtor has already initiated bankruptcy proceedings.
In other cases, since September 11, you can safely apply to your credit institution for the sale of an apartment because “well, I couldn’t, I couldn’t.” Within ten days, the bank must make a decision on the matter: “yes” or “no.” If yes, the debtor has four months to sell the property and pay off the mortgage (but the deadline can be extended by prior agreement with the bank). The minimum sale price is determined by the bank.
In fact, in many previous cases, banks were interested in resolving the issue with mortgagors “amicably” – before the trial, and not bringing the matter to the point of selling the house under the hammer. Especially when housing prices are not rising or threatening to fall. What’s the catch? By selling it independently, you will have incomparably greater chances of selling the apartment at the market price. At auctions, given the regulation of Russian legislation, such chances practically do not exist; often, this money is simply not enough to close the mortgage. And this is not in the interest of either the borrower, who risks being left without an apartment and in debt, or the bank itself.
WHAT ELSE WILL CHANGE?
– A law establishing uniform federal requirements for the installation of cameras to record traffic violations is to come into force. The number of cameras is expected to decrease.
-Regional authorities will have the right to set the amount of the fine for non-payment of travel on toll highways. In Moscow, this fine will be doubled – for citizens: from 1.5 thousand to 3 thousand. It is true that within the capital, Moscow drivers pay only for travel on Bagration Avenue. The Moscow high-speed ring road for cars with Moscow and Moscow region license plates is free of charge. Therefore, this measure applies more to non-resident car owners.
– Restrictions are being introduced on the provision of loans to citizens with a floating interest rate (this is when the interest rate on the loan is not fixed for the entire term, but can change depending on certain circumstances – for example, it is tied to the interest rate of the Central Bank). Now they are allowed to be issued only for an amount exceeding 200 average nominal wages according to Rosstat (this is now equivalent to about 15 million rubles), but for a period of no more than 20 years. But for an amount exceeding 1,000 average nominal wages (about 75 million rubles) – without any restrictions. People who take out such large loans are supposed to be not poor and understand the possible risks.
