(Reuters) – Russia is eyeing a broader pool of migrant workers beyond the ex-Soviet republics, now inclining towards Asian nations such as Myanmar, the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday. With the country’s unemployment rate hitting a historic low of 2.3%, President Vladimir Putin has identified labor shortages as a pressing concern. This issue was brought into focus when steel giant Severstal criticized a regional decision to prohibit migrant workers in the construction sector. Historically, migrants from former Soviet Union countries have been a predominant presence in Russia’s migrant workforce.
Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov, addressing the lower house of parliament, emphasized the necessity of exploring new avenues for sourcing migrant labor. “We should not solely rely on our traditional sources for migrant workers,” Interfax quoted Reshetnikov as saying. “There are numerous countries worldwide actively exporting their labor force, and we must be prepared for this reality.”
In efforts to diversify its migrant workforce, Russia is engaging in dialogues with Myanmar, a nation where approximately 6 million out of its 55 million population are employed abroad. President Putin is set to meet with Myanmar’s leader and military junta chief Min Aung Hlaing at the Kremlin on Tuesday.
The outflow of workers from civilian enterprises has been exacerbated by the significant recruitment drives in the armed forces and defense industries. Furthermore, following Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022, hundreds of thousands of Russians have chosen to leave the country. The tensions have escalated for workers from Central Asia due to the growing animosity towards them in Russia, particularly since the 2024 attack by Islamist militants from Tajikistan near Moscow, resulting in the tragic deaths of 145 individuals.
“We recognize the critical importance of regulating migration effectively to overcome the challenges in replenishing the labor market. It is imperative that we approach these issues transparently and engage in meaningful discussions,” highlighted Reshetnikov.
Russia, along with China, has shown support for Myanmar’s military regime, evident in their joint veto of a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning alleged human rights violations in the country.
(Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
