The State Duma introduced a bill on the introduction of long weekends: from 1 to 9 May

"Today, the New People party has introduced a bill that will make the long May [weekend] really long. So that everyone has a rest from May 1 to May 9", - Davankov, one of the authors of the initiative, said (quoted by TASS).

If the bill is approved, the weekend in Russia will begin on April 29 and last until May 9. At the same time, the January holidays will be shortened and will last from January 1 to January 3. Christmas (January 7) will also remain a day off. Thus, the number of working days and days off will be saved.

"It is better to go to the spring forest for barbecue on an extra weekend than to stay at home in winter with salads", - Davankov believes.

He added that now the regions can set additional days off during the May holidays on their own, but "they do not use this opportunity." The Vice Speaker noted that last year only Adygea extended the May holidays from 1 to 5 May and from 7 to 10 May.

"We believe that this is how people should rest all over the country. And we will have time to do everything we need before the May and after the May [weekend]," he said.

The proposed bill provides for amendments to Article 112 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation. The explanatory note to the published document states that the extension of the weekend will allow Russians to gather their families, spend time with loved ones, which will help strengthen family and kinship ties, improve the socio-psychological well-being of citizens. It is noted that the warm May weather and long weekends contribute to recreation in nature and outside the house, which will have a positive impact on domestic tourism, will contribute to the development of small businesses in the country.

The head of the State Duma Committee on Social Policy, Yaroslav Nilov, in an interview with RIA Novosti, said that this is an "old discussion", and the proposal is not the first. In his opinion, there are no serious prospects for this bill.

"The committee will consider, discuss, and watch when the bill arrives, but given that this initiative is not the first, I believe that it has no serious prospects at the moment", - Nilov stressed.