Russia's lower-house State Duma on Wednesday passed sweeping legislation tying the legal status of migrant workers and their families to their financial earnings. Under the bills, migrant workers must prove they earn enough to support themselves and dependents according to official subsistence levels set by federal and regional governments. Falling short, or becoming unemployed, triggers non-renewal or annulment of their temporary low-skilled work “patents,” followed by deportation within 15 days.
Migrants will also face a mandatory fixed advance income tax for themselves and each family member. Foreign dependents may remain in Russia only for the duration of the primary worker’s patent. Children of migrants turning 18 must secure their own work patents or face deportation within 30 days.
Duma Speaker Frames Measures as Public Demand
Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin framed the measures as a direct response to public demands. Volodin declared they “bring order to migration issues.” He boasted that the Duma has enacted 30 migration-related laws since 2024, reported the Moscow Times.
The legislation, which passed its second and third readings Wednesday, now heads to the Federation Council and President Vladimir Putin for final approval.
Anti-Migrant Surge After Crocus City Hall Attack
The push follows a surge in anti-migrant sentiment triggered by the March 22, 2024, terrorist attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall, which killed more than 140 people and was claimed by an ISIS affiliate. Authorities quickly arrested Tajik suspects, sparking widespread raids on migrant hostels, mass deportations, ethnic profiling, and harassment targeting Central Asians, particularly Tajiks and Uzbeks.
Police conducted operations across dozens of regions, detaining thousands, expelling hundreds, and restricting migrants from sectors like taxi driving, retail, and food services in over 30 areas. Reports documented arbitrary arrests, violence, and a spike in xenophobic incidents, including refusals of service and street attacks. Central Asian governments, including Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, raised concerns over the mistreatment of their citizens.
Economic Dependence and Labour Shortages
Russia’s economy has long depended on Central Asian migrant labour for construction, services, and other low-skilled work, especially amid labour shortages exacerbated by the Ukraine war. However, the Crocus attack provided political cover for a broader conservative turn, with authorities using migration controls to address public anger and security fears.
The crackdowns have coincided with controversial recruitment practices. Hundreds of Indian nationals were tricked by agents with promises of civilian jobs, only to be funnelled into the Russian military and sent to fight in Ukraine, often with minimal training. India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed over 200 cases, with families pleading for their return after some were killed or wounded. Moscow has discharged dozens, but the scandal highlighted vulnerabilities in Russia’s migrant pipelines.
Critics Warn of Labour Shortage and Political Tool
Analysts say the new income-based rules will further deter low-skilled migrants, potentially worsening labour shortages while appealing to nationalist voters. Critics view it as another tool to weaponise migration policy amid the war, prioritising “order” over economic realities that have sustained Russia’s workforce for years.
