DUSHANBE, April 10, 2009, Asia-Plus — In a report released at a press conference in Moscow, Director of Russia’s Migration Service (FMS) Konstantin Romodanovsky noted on April 9 that Russia’s migration legislation requires some amendments, some Russian media reported.
According to him, two mechanisms to ease migrants’ entry into the Russian Federation are currently being worked out. “The first mechanism means creation of blue cards for immigrants and the second one means getting patent for work,” said Romodanovsky, “These steps will be opportune for enhancement of Russia’s economy.”
Touching upon the issue of illegal migration, the FMS head noted that there were no exact data; however, the rate of illegal migrants in the country was very high.
“Over the past two months alone, some 4,000 illegal migrants have been deported from Russia,” the FMS director said, noting that those who break the migration service have to pay a fee of 800,000 Russian rubles each illegal migrant.
He noted that some 14.4 million people, including some 1 million citizens of Tajikistan, 3.5 million Ukrainians, 2 million Uzbeks, 1.5 million Kazakhs and some 1 million of Kyrgyz nationals, entered Russia last year. Men constituted 72 percent of them and women 28 percent.
In the meantime, The Moscow Times reported on March 20 this year that visa rules will be eased for white-collar workers from the European Union, the United States and Japan under legislation being prepared for the State Duma. The proposed legislation would create an EU-like blue card for skilled immigrants in Russia and remove many bureaucratic headaches, possibly including work quotas, the migration service said.
Migration officials have discussed easing visa rules since 2007, but the talks have gained new impetus in recent weeks amid government worries about a shortage of qualified personnel despite the crisis.
“Russians still have a priority in getting jobs, but there are some professions that lack specialists in the country,” migration service spokesman Konstantin Poltoranin was cited as saying.
Poltoranin said his agency has passed recommendations on easing visa rules to the Cabinet, including a suggestion that employers of new foreign companies opening in Russia not be required to deal with labor authorities, thereby facilitating the employment process. According to him, the softened visa rules might also no longer require companies to apply for quotas for foreign staff. Quotas are one of the most common problems for companies with foreign personnel because a company looking to hire, for example, a British national can only apply for a quota on British nationals at the start of every year. Poltoranin likened the proposals to the planned EU Blue Card, based on the U.S. Green Card and aimed at allowing suitably qualified people and their families to live and work in the EU.
