Fictitious addresses

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 393.

Last year, more than 260,000 foreign nationals registered at 6,000 addresses across the country, or 43 per address, Romanodovsky said. In a village in the Smolensk region, 132 foreigners were registered in a 19-square-meter wooden hut, he said.

President Vladimir Putin has proposed tightening immigration law, introducing language tests and cracking down on the use of fictitious registration addresses. Last month, he instructed federal and regional authorities to introduce mandatory testing for migrant workers in subjects such as the Russian language, Russian history, and the basics of Russian legislation. Putin also called for bills toughening punishments for violating immigration laws to be prepared by December.

Yet immigrant workers from former Soviet states fill important niches in the labor market. A large majority are engaged in unskilled, semi-skilled and menial jobs that Russians don't want.

Russia has been implementing a special program for the resettlement of compatriots for the sixth year running. However, the program has failed to meet expectations, Romodanovsky said. Since the program's inception six years ago, only 68,000 Russians decided to move back permanently, he said.

Meanwhile, Russia has seen an exodus of young people who have an opportunity to work abroad. Recent polls suggest that around 20 percent of Russians are considering leaving the country at the first opportunity.