In Russia, Employees Will Be Able to Sign or Terminate Employment Contracts via MAX
New legislation would allow workers and employers to officially communicate and exchange documents through the national MAX messenger.
Russia is set to change the rules governing electronic interaction between employees and employers. The Ministry of Labor has prepared a draft law proposing the use of the MAX messenger for electronic document exchange in labor relations. The new provisions are expected to come into force on September 1, 2026.
Documents and Signatures
The draft law provides for document exchange via MAX on the condition that an employer’s information system is connected to the platform. The messenger could also be used in conjunction with the national digital platform Rabota v Rossii (Work in Russia). This would significantly expand the functionality of existing government services in the employment sphere.
Through MAX, employers would be able to send requested documents and copies to employees, as well as provide access to documents signed with a simple electronic signature. At present, these actions are mostly handled through personal accounts on the Gosuslugi portal. The proposed approach adds an alternative channel that is more familiar in everyday communication.
For Remote Workers and Parental Leave
A separate set of changes concerns remote employment. The draft law allows employment contracts and addendums for remote work to be concluded using an employee’s non-qualified electronic signature via MAX. This is expected to significantly shorten document processing times and simplify exchanges for remote workers, a form of employment that continues to grow in popularity.
MAX is a national messenger and digital user-services platform, the first version of which was launched in 2025 by VK. The app supports audio and video calls, chats, file sharing, and money transfers, as well as business services delivered through mini-apps and chatbots. According to the company, by the end of 2025 MAX had reached 80 million users, with a daily audience exceeding 50 million people.
Including MAX in the regulation of labor relations is expected to greatly simplify electronic document workflows for both employers and employees, especially given the rise of remote work and the widespread use of digital services.
