Labor migrants who remained in Russia during the pandemic found themselves in a difficult situation, and there are already a lot of them. About this during a video conference in the media center “patriot” experts told.
Russian President Vladimir Putin 18 April signed a decree, allowing all labor migrants, whose stay in the country was legal for 15 March this year, unhindered to stay and work until 15 June. During this time, the duration of their stay will not be taken into account., and consequently, will not be able to expire documents, including labor patent, the monthly cost of which in Moscow is 5,3 thousand rubles.
As the decree says, employers, complying with the necessary sanitary and epidemiological measures, will be able to hire as migrants, arrived in Russia on a visa, but have not received a work permit, and migrants, “arrived in the Russian Federation in order, not requiring a visa, and no patents”. The vast majority of migrants in Russia belong to the second category, these are citizens of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Ukraine.
“In my opinion, the adoption of such a document is a success for Russia and a very timely measure, – notes the President of the Federation of Migrants of Russia Vadim Kozhenov. - In fact, people can continue to work quietly - no need to draw up additional paperwork. The employer only has to notify the internal supervisory authorities about the conclusion of employment contracts - so that the state knows, who works and where. In fact, that's all.
It should be understood, that the migrants who remained in the Russian Federation are now in a rather difficult situation, they need support. And there are already a lot of them – hundreds of thousands. I've always been against that, to pay benefits to visitors for, that they don't work. The experience of the West has shown, that in this case people do not seek to look for work, and much more often they replenish the army of criminals. I have been criticized more than once by pseudo-human rights activists for this position., but i don't change it. The problem is, that migrants have nowhere to work in Russia now.
We sent a letter to the Moscow mayor's office, that it is necessary to resume city works as much as possible. Rearrange tiles, paint fences, repair roads, clean up parks - this will give the labor migrants remaining in the Russian Federation jobs and earnings. This means, they will have no need to steal or rob, to feed”.
Abandoned by their homeland in Russia
If Russian planes take out citizens of the Russian Federation from different countries of the world every day, where they ended up locked up due to pandemic quarantine, the, as it turned out, not all countries adhere to a similar policy for their fellow countrymen. Most of the CIS countries, whose migrants massively leave for the Russian Federation, just refuse to accept their citizens – even when Moscow declares its readiness to deliver them at its own expense. The motherland abandoned its compatriots during a difficult period without help and hopes to return home.
In particular, this is what Uzbekistan did, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and a number of other states. Citizens of these countries are forced to live at airports or return to Russian cities, consuming previously accumulated savings. But their, as experts admit, won't last long.
“The Azerbaijani authorities refuse to let their fellow citizens in because, that are limited in the number of places for quarantine, – told the chairman of the Azerbaijani community in Moscow Shamil Tagiev. - They declare, what are you ready to accept in a week 400 a person - when beds are free for them in observation. The rest should stay at their place of stay abroad - strict quarantine measures. Thanks to this, the epidemic situation in Azerbaijan is favorable..
But our fellow citizens in Russia were mainly employed in the service sector and public catering., as well as trade. All this collapsed at the beginning of April, to 80% compatriots in Russia are left without work and are in a desperate situation. Therefore, we ask you to remember, how the republics of the USSR were international, and now we call on Russia to help the citizens of Azerbaijan remaining on its territory “.
“On Russian territory, including illegally, work up 3 millions of Uzbeks - can you imagine, what funds will be required, to take them out, – believes the President of the Interregional Uzbek Community “Compatriot” Usman Baratov. - This is three million seats on planes. And upon arrival at home, they need to organize places for quarantine - to isolate, examine, feed.
This is just unreal! Because I think, that Russia should also help the remaining migrants - they worked in the Russian Federation for a long time, paid taxes, rented apartments, paid for utility services. That is, they participated in economic life. And now they demand participation - at least in the form of distribution of food or benefits. Because Uzbekistan does not help its citizens abroad”.
You can't be deported
Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) proposed to equate employed migrants with citizens of the Russian Federation during the coronavirus pandemic to receive unemployment benefits. The corresponding letter was sent to the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin. ASI leadership indicates: precedent already set in Portugal, Where 580 thousands of migrants are equal to citizens.
“I don't really believe in this initiative - if it is introduced, this will cause a surge of xenophobia towards migrants among Russians. The question will arise - why in the first place does the state think about visitors?, and not about our own citizens. But if you choose between the rise of xenophobia and the surge in crime in the country, then I would still choose the first”, – recognized Kozhenov.
“Russia's policy towards remaining migrants should be extremely simple, – State Duma deputy thinks Oleg Nilov. - Those of them, who was left without work, must be provided with food, so they don't join the ranks of criminals. In no case should you give money - only food. At the same time, they must be isolated from any movement in Russian cities.. In parallel, the Government of the Russian Federation must work with the authorities of the countries, where did the migrants come from.
We are in the same position, as states, refusing to accept their citizens. And you need to use the carrot and stick method to force them to take out their compatriots. Finally, these republics do not send us money and food - for some reason Russia will have to feed them. But for decades, they received tens of billions of dollars earned in the Russian Federation by migrants to support their economies.
Only by such methods can we reduce the risks of the spread of coronavirus infection by migrants and prevent an increase in the crime rate on the part of foreign citizens.”.
For reference
In the beginning of April 8,5% migrant workers in Russia found themselves in an extremely disastrous situation - these are the results of the survey 30 thousands of people. That is, if there is an order in the Russian Federation 10 million migrants, including illegal, the 850 thousands of them urgently need help. The survey was conducted by the Federation of Migrants of Russia.
Max Boot
