Medal "Veteran of Labour"

Medal "Veteran of Labour"
Medal "Veteran of Labour" (obverse)
Awarded by  USSR
Type	Civilian long service medal
Eligibility	Citizens of the Soviet Union
Awarded for	A long and distinguished career
Status	No longer awarded
Statistics
Established	January 18, 1974
Total awarded	39,197,100
Ribbons of the Medal "Veteran of Labour"

The Medal "Veteran of Labour" (Russian: медаль «Ветеран труда») was a civilian labour award of the Soviet Union established on January 18, 1974 by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR to honour workers for many years of hard work in the national economy, sciences, culture, education, healthcare, government agencies and public organizations. Although it only had a relatively short eighteen years of existence, it was awarded nearly forty million times. Its regulations were detailed and approved by decree number 5999-VIII of May 20, 1974. Its statute was amended by multiple successive decrees of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, first on June 8, 1977, then on August 12, 1983 and lastly on December 28, 1987. The medal ceased to be awarded following the December 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The Medal "Veteran of Labour" was awarded to workers for many years of hard work in the national economy, sciences, culture, education, healthcare, government agencies and public organizations. The medal was awarded to workers, farmers and employees in recognition of their lifelong labour on reaching the seniority required for a long-service pension or retirement age. Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR number 5822-IX of June 8, 1977 added the rank and file and the officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs as potential recipients under the same award criteria as the labourers mentioned in the August 12, 1983 decree.

Recommendations for award were made jointly by administrators of Party and trade union organizations, enterprises, institutions and organizations based on nominations from working groups or workforce councils. The list of potential recipients was then forwarded to municipal, district, or Party and government bodies for final approval. In the case of members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the list of nominations was forwarded to the Minister of Internal Affairs for final approval.

Award ceremonies of the Medal "Veteran of Labour" usually took place in the work place of the recipients and were made on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union or of Autonomous Republics, the executive committees of regional and provincial Soviets, Moscow Soviet, Leningrad Soviet, or of the city Soviets of People's Deputies of the capitals of Soviet republics.