Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged his countrymen to have sex while at work. He suggested that employees use lunch and coffee breaks for this purpose, as Russia faces a declining birth rate.
According to a Metro report, Russia’s current birth rate stands at 1.5 children per woman. For population stability, the rate needs to be 2.1. To address this gap, Putin encouraged workers to take advantage of their office breaks for family planning.
Russia’s population has been shrinking since the war with Ukraine began. The exodus of young people leaving the country is impacting its demographics.
Russian Health Minister Dr. Yevgeny Shestpalov emphasized that work should never be a barrier to childbirth. He urged Russians to use their lunch and coffee breaks to focus on family planning. Criticizing the excuse of being too busy with work, Shestpalov noted that raising a family can still happen during breaks because life changes quickly.
In addition to these suggestions, the Kremlin has implemented other measures to combat the declining birth rate. Women aged 18 to 40 in Moscow are being offered free reproductive screenings to assess their fertility and reproductive health. Meanwhile, the Chelyabinsk region has introduced financial incentives to boost the birth rate.
Women under 24 now receive payments ranging from Rs 1.02 lakh to Rs 9.40 lakh after the birth of their first child. Abortion access has also been significantly restricted.
Public representatives and religious leaders are promoting the idea that a woman’s primary duty is to bear and raise children. To further address the issue, the government has raised the divorce fee, hoping to encourage couples to stay together.
According to official data, Russia’s birth rate dropped in the first half of 2024, marking a 25-year low. The birth rate between April and June fell below 100,000 for the first time.
In total, 5,99,600 children were born between January and June 2024, 16,000 fewer than in the same period of 2023.