The Russian government has decided to further tighten regulations regarding the employment of foreign nationals. New restrictions and requirements will come into effect starting in 2026, aiming to significantly reduce the share of migrants in several sectors.
According to the adopted measures, the employment of labor migrants will be completely prohibited in certain service and trade sectors. Specifically, foreign nationals will not be allowed to work in pharmacies, markets, mobile trade points, as well as in activities related to the sale of alcohol and tobacco products.
Additionally, the share of migrants in some industries will be sharply reduced. In the passenger and cargo transportation sector, the share of foreign workers must not exceed 24 percent. In the construction sector, this figure will be reduced from the previous 80 percent to 50 percent. In vegetable farming and forestry, the share of migrant workers will decrease from 50 percent to 40 percent.
Under the new rules, companies exceeding their designated quotas will be required to terminate labor contracts with surplus workers. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in severe penalties.
In cases of violations, officials may face fines ranging from 45,000 to 50,000 rubles. For companies, the consequences are even harsher: fines from 800,000 to 1 million rubles or temporary suspension of operations for 14 to 90 days can be imposed.
Experts believe that these changes may increase competition in the Russian labor market and could lead to labor shortages in certain sectors. At the same time, the new regulations will require an additional adjustment period for both migrants and the employers who hire them.
In summary, starting in 2026, working conditions for labor migrants in Russia will become significantly more challenging, making adaptation to the new rules a primary concern in the market.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
Users of Меҳмон are not allowed to comment this publication.
