Starting March 1, 2026, a new amendment to Russia's Labor Code will expand the grounds for firing migrant workers. Employers will now be allowed to dismiss foreign employees if regional authorities set limits on the number of foreign workers in specific sectors or companies.
Previously, migrant workers could only be fired for federal reasons, such as expired permits, revoked work authorizations, or violations of federal quotas. With the new changes, regional restrictions are now an additional reason for dismissal, increasing uncertainty for migrants in the workforce.
What has changed?
The new amendments to Article 327.6 of the Russian Labor Code give employers the right to dismiss migrant workers if regional authorities impose quotas on the number of foreign nationals or stateless persons in certain industries. This change allows employers to comply with regional quotas without the risk of fines, but it creates additional challenges for the migrants themselves.
Before the changes, regional limits on the number of foreign workers were not a legal reason for dismissal, although violating these quotas could result in fines up to 1 million rubles. Now, employers can not only comply with these limits but also officially fire employees if the number of foreign workers exceeds the established quota.
Problems for migrants
The new rules will have several consequences for migrant workers:
· Job instability. Even if a migrant works well and has all the necessary documents, they could still be dismissed simply because of regional limits.
· Regional disparities. Some regions will have stricter quotas, increasing the risk of layoffs, while others will have more lenient limits, giving workers a better chance of retaining their jobs.
· Need for adaptability. Migrants will need to be prepared to either find new employment or relocate if their employers are forced to comply with regional quotas.
A real-life example
Consider a café in the Tver region, where 10 chefs work, six of whom are migrants. If local authorities set a rule that foreign workers should not exceed half of the staff in a restaurant, and this rule is violated, the café owner would previously have only faced a fine. Dismissing employees for this reason would have been illegal, and any layoffs would need to be officially classified as a reduction in staff or restructuring.
However, with the new amendments in 2026, exceeding the quota will itself be grounds for dismissal. The café owner will be able to legally reduce the number of foreign chefs to comply with regional regulations.
Does this mean migrants can be fired at the snap of a finger?
Despite the new grounds for dismissal, employers are still required to follow the standard firing procedures.
This includes notifying the employee, issuing payments, and ensuring no discrimination or abuse of power occurs. The key condition is that regional restrictions must be in place and enforceable, not based on rumors or future plans by the authorities.
