Laws and regulations governing the work of artists in regard to:
a) Employment and working conditions
- Basic Law of the Russian Federation on Culture (1992);
- Law On Author's Right and Related Rights (1993);
- Law On State Support for the Cinema of the Russian Federation (1996)
- Federal Government Act on State Support for Theatre Art in the Russian Federation. 
- General laws like Labor Code of the Russian Federation;
- Laws on public unions, on professional unions, etc.

b) Social welfare (health insurance, occupational accidents, disability, unemployment and pensions)
- Basic Law of the Russian Federation on Culture (1992); 
- On Charity Activities and Charity Organizations (1995);
- On State Pensions in the Russian Federation and other general legislation

c) Training
- Basic Law of the Russian Federation on Culture (1992);
- General laws On education (1992);
- On Higher Education and Postgraduate Studies (1996).

Working conditions

Work permit and professional status for artists
In Russia it exists a work permit and a "professional" status for artists. Conditions to obtain them are: professional activities carried out, employment, membership in professional organizations, education (each one and any combination of).

Advantages of such a status
Professional is better incorporated into community.

The health care system
All the workers are covered by the health care system. There are only relicts of the former soviet system called 'departmental'. Private health care scheme exists and artists have access to it.

Social Welfare

Insurance schemes  in place
Insurance schemes  in place cover  illness, maternity, disability, retirement, in case of employment.
Social coverage is compulsory.

Complementary insurance schemes
Artists are obliged only if they are members of the professional unions or guilds, providing additional insurance schemes based on membership fees, commercial activities of unions, etc.

The State and artists' unions administer contributions and the payment of benefits.

Remuneration
There are legal minimums for the artists' remuneration by the type of artistic production.  Artists are paid wages directly mostly or via authors' societies.

Unemployment insurance scheme for artists
There are unemployment insurance scheme designed in the artists' unions Statutes

Source: Russian Institute for Cultural Research, January 2004.

Standard-Setting Instruments:

• Act n°3612 of 9 October 1992 on general principles of the legislation on Culture (Text n°2615). Promulgated by Decree n°3613 of 9 October 1992 (Text n°2616).
  Vedomosti Verkhovnogo Soveta, 1992, n° 46, pp. 3388-3410