Russia is moving toward a new approach to labor migration in which foreign workers will be hired only temporarily and on a situational basis, according to Economic Development Minister Maksim Reshetnikov.
TASS reports that speaking at the All-Russian Occupational Safety and Health Week, he stressed that the country does not intend to rely on migrants in the long term.
“If we develop under labor shortages, of course, we will need to attract migrants in certain cases. But the principle must be simple: came, worked, left. People come, earn money, and return home. We don’t need families here, nor are we obliged to provide schooling for non-citizens,” Reshetnikov said, adding that the government’s main goal is to raise the productivity of Russian workers, with special programs designed around the platform economy.
The statement comes amid tighter state control over migrant workers in Russia. On September 1, Moscow and the Moscow region launched a pilot registration system for migrants from visa-free countries using a mobile app called Amina. Migrants must now install the app, register their address, and share geolocation data. Failure to comply can result in removal from the registration system or placement on a “controlled persons” list, potentially leading to expulsion from the country.
In addition, regional governments across Russia are implementing their own restrictions on certain types of employment for migrants, adjusting labor access based on local market needs. Officials say the measures are intended to balance the interests of residents and employers while reducing social tensions over competition for jobs.
