Employer bankruptcy does not automatically end an employment contract or erase unpaid wages. The employee should check the period of the debt, whether it has been recorded, who administers the proceedings and whether dismissal has been properly documented. Current wages and earlier arrears follow different payment priorities under Russian law.
What payments to check
| Payment | What to establish | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Wages | Work period, accrual, actual payment and compensation for delay | Payslips and bank statements |
| Holiday pay and unused leave | When the entitlement arose and the earnings calculation | Orders and payroll records |
| Severance | Grounds for dismissal and applicable amount | Dismissal order and notice |
| Bonuses and allowances | Eligibility and accrual conditions | Internal policies, targets and orders |
Do not sign a voluntary resignation simply because someone verbally promises quicker payment. The reason for dismissal affects entitlements. Obtain copies of employment and payroll documents before losing access.
Employee action plan
- Compare the contract, orders, payslips, timesheets and bank receipts.
- Find the court case, relevant order, procedure and insolvency administrator.
- Request information on the amount, composition and priority of the recorded claim.
- Submit evidence of discrepancies and, where necessary, seek judicial resolution through the applicable procedure.
📅 Dismissal: check the ground, notice and calculation
This addition was checked on 25 October 2026 against Labour Code Article 81(1)(1) and (2), Article 178(1) and Article 180, amended 25 May 2026. It concerns an ordinary employment contract with an organisation; special contract categories require separate review.
The notice and order must identify a particular ground. Liquidation and staff reduction are distinct Article 81 grounds. Saying “the company is bankrupt” does not replace dismissal documentation. Continue recording actual work and accruals until lawful termination.
Article 180 requires personal notice against acknowledgment at least two months before dismissal. A bankruptcy publication should not be treated as that personal notice. Early termination under this provision requires the employee’s written consent and additional average-earnings compensation proportionate to the notice period remaining.
| Record | Check | Employee action |
|---|---|---|
| Personal notice | Ground, delivery date and intended dismissal date | Keep a copy and receipt evidence |
| Dismissal order | Precise ground and termination date | Obtain a copy and compare it with the notice |
| Early-termination consent | Written consent and additional compensation calculation | Do not replace early-termination consent with a voluntary resignation |
| Individual calculation | Wages, leave amounts, severance and additional compensation separately | Match every line with records and actual receipts |
For liquidation or staff reduction, Article 178(1) provides severance equal to average monthly earnings. It is separate from Article 180 additional compensation for early termination. Average earnings during a job-search period are subject to separate Article 178 conditions; second- and third-month payments are not unconditional for every employee.
A supplied statement shows RUB 30,000 wages, RUB 10,000 unused-leave compensation and RUB 50,000 severance, totalling RUB 90,000. Check each entitlement and accrual separately. Where Article 180 additional compensation applies, it should not disappear within an unexplained “severance” line. A payroll figure does not guarantee an estate distribution.
Request for dismissal explanations
“Please provide work-related records through the Article 62 procedure described above and explain the dismissal ground, personal-notice date and final-calculation components. For early termination, please identify the written consent and the Article 180 additional-compensation calculation.” Specify the missing records, period and reply address.
Does agreeing to leave early remove severance?
Written early-termination consent under Article 180 does not itself convert liquidation or staff reduction into voluntary resignation. Check the order’s ground and calculate the applicable payments separately.
Article 81 · Article 178 · Labour Code Article 180. For collective participation, see the employee-representative guide.
Current payments or claims in the register
The relevant question is when the employer’s obligation arose. Unpaid wages and severance arising before acceptance of the bankruptcy petition are dealt with in the claims register. Pay for work after that date is a current payment. A later certificate or court judgment does not itself turn earlier arrears into current debt.
| Claim | Basic priority | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Wages for work after acceptance of the petition | Second priority among current payments | Check current-payment records and chronological priority |
| Earlier wages and severance | Second priority in the register, with internal sub-priorities | Check the amount and period recorded |
| Compensation for delay | Assessed with the associated claim under the applicable rules | Provide an Article 236 Labour Code calculation |
Two requests: employment records and a register extract
| Request | Basis and deadline | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Work-related orders and certificates of salary and employment periods | Labour Code Article 62: no later than three working days after the written application | Copies must be properly certified; the records are provided free of charge |
| An extract showing the amount, composition and priority of the employee’s registered claim | Bankruptcy Law Article 16(9): five working days after receipt of the creditor’s or representative’s request | Preparation and delivery costs fall on the creditor; this concerns their claim, rather than an unconditional right to the entire register |
For the register extract, state the case number, employer, your details and the specific debt periods. If the claim is absent, provide the calculation and evidence and ask why it has not been recorded; sending a letter is not confirmation of inclusion. Article 16(6) provides a special recording procedure for employment claims, while Article 16(11) distinguishes disputes about the register from employment disputes. An employment dispute with the employer follows employment law and civil procedural law; not every issue can automatically be referred to the commercial court handling bankruptcy.
Request deadlines and Article 16(6), (9) and (11) checked on 21 October 2026. Neither deadline guarantees payment of arrears within three or five days.
If the amount is missing or understated
- Request the calculation and an extract from the register.
- Compare accrual periods with the petition acceptance date.
- Attach the contract, orders, timesheets and payslips.
- Calculate delay compensation separately.
- Keep written requests and proof of delivery.
- Do not leave the dispute until the insolvency procedure has ended.
Three checks before your next step
Accrual
Compare payslips with actual payments.
Period
Separate arrears by the date the obligation arose.
Claim record
Check the recorded amount in the proceedings.
Preparation checklist
These checkboxes are for your own review and reset when the page is reloaded.
Frequently asked questions
Must the employee file a claim personally?
Wage claims are entered by the administrator or by the registrar on the administrator’s submission; disputed amounts and composition are determined by the court. The employee should still check the records and provide documents.
Does bankruptcy mean immediate dismissal?
No. A lawful ground and the required employment documentation are needed. Employment duties and accruals continue until lawful termination.
Who pays the arrears?
Payments are made from the employer’s assets according to statutory priority. A judgment does not guarantee recovery if assets are insufficient.
Can delay compensation be claimed?
Article 236 of the Russian Labour Code provides monetary compensation. Its calculation and priority must be considered with the underlying claim.
Related issues: the employer’s liquidation bankruptcy procedure, unemployment and personal bankruptcy, and requesting an extract for your own claim.
Legal sources
See Articles 134 and 136 of Federal Law No. 127-FZ and Articles 178, 180 and 236 of the Russian Labour Code. Sources linked below are in Russian.
- Bankruptcy Law, Article 134 (Russian)
- Bankruptcy Law, Article 136 (Russian)
- Russian Labour Code, Articles 178, 180 and 236 (Russian)
- official review of employee bankruptcy claims (Russian)