Russia Plans to Import 1.7 Million Migrants Under Experiment

Russia is set to implement a significant experiment in organized labor recruitment, aiming to bring in over 1.7 million foreign workers by 2030. This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, signals a strategic move to address labor needs within the country. The plan prioritizes workers from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) nations, leveraging existing visa-free agreements to streamline the process.

The program will operate on a registry model, replacing traditional paper documents with an electronic system. This modernization effort, set to launch by the end of 2026, underscores Russia's commitment to digitizing administrative processes. While the full scope of expenses remains undisclosed, the Ministry has proposed introducing state fees for registry entries to cover administrative costs, projecting substantial budget revenues from the project.

From the perspective of 24.kg, a news outlet based in Kyrgyzstan, this development is particularly relevant. Central Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan, are significant sources of labor for Russia. The organized recruitment model, while potentially offering a more structured pathway for workers, also raises questions about labor rights, wages, and integration. The emphasis on CIS countries suggests a continued focus on regional economic ties, but the scale of the import indicates a substantial reliance on foreign labor to fuel Russia's economic objectives. This experiment will be closely watched for its impact on both the Russian labor market and the economies of the participating CIS nations.