Russian unions propose new regulations as debate intensifies over whether employers' difficulty in hiring stems from inadequate wages.

Is It a Genuine Labor Shortage, or Are Companies Unwilling to Offer Fair Wages? Russian Unions Address Industry Pain Points

Andrey Vitolzhitsky, head of the union in Sverdlovsk Oblast, has proposed new regulations requiring enterprises to issue full, formal salaries to migrant workers and to legally calculate and pay overtime compensation. The underlying rationale is straightforward: eliminating excessive working hours and unpaid overtime—longstanding gray-market practices—would prevent companies from artificially suppressing labor costs through the exploitation of foreign workers. In turn, businesses would be compelled to reassess and improve their treatment of domestic employees.

Vitolzhitsky emphasized that unions prioritize securing employment rights for local workers. He advocates using administrative and tax policy instruments to incentivize employers to raise wages for domestic staff, thereby encouraging national citizens to enter the workforce and help fill existing labor gaps.

This proposal is not intended to grant special privileges to migrant workers but rather to eradicate illicit practices that generate unjustified profits. However, policy recommendations alone are insufficient to resolve systemic issues. Without rigorous oversight, such informal labor arrangements will merely adapt and persist under new forms. In practice, many companies' claims of being unable to hire workers often reflect a reluctance to offer competitive, market-appropriate wages.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1879037028959428/

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