Mukomel V.I. Labour migrants from the newly independent countries on the Russian labor market. Caucasian Science Bridge, 2019, Issue 1(3), pp. 85-102.

Abstract

The article examines the socio-demographic profiles and employment profiles of labor migrants from the CIS countries and Georgia in the Russian labor market, the prevalence of illegal and informal employment among them. Special attention is paid to the conditions and remuneration of labor migrants, their mobility in the labor market.  Innovations in Russian legislation that came into force in 2015, as well as the integration process within the Eurasian economic Union (EEU), significantly facilitated access to jobs in Russia for citizens of the newly independent post-Soviet States.  The share of illegal migrant workers has decreased compared to previous years, which has had a positive impact on the remuneration of foreign workers: legal employment has become better paid than illegal employment. However, there is still a significant pay gap between women and men migrants, and informal employment of foreign nationals is widespread, which makes it difficult to make progress in creating conditions for decent work for migrants.   The empirical basis of the study is the results of sociological surveys of migrants from the CIS and Georgia, conducted in 2011 and in 2017 (respectively, 7.4 thousand and 8.0 thousand respondents present in the Russian labor market) The article examines the socio-demographic profiles and employment profiles of labor migrants from the CIS countries and Georgia in the Russian labor market, the prevalence of illegal and informal employment among them. Special attention is paid to the conditions and remuneration of labor migrants, their mobility in the labor market. Innovations in Russian legislation that came into force in 2015, as well as the integration process within the Eurasian economic Union (EEU), significantly facilitated access to jobs in Russia for citizens of the newly independent post-Soviet States.  The share of illegal migrant workers has decreased compared to previous years, which has had a positive impact on the remuneration of foreign workers: legal employment has become better paid than illegal employment. However, there is still a significant pay gap between women and men migrants, and informal employment of foreign nationals is widespread, which makes it difficult to make progress in creating conditions for decent work for migrants.  The empirical basis of the study is the results of sociological surveys of migrants from the CIS and Georgia, conducted in 2011 and in 2017 (respectively, 7.4 thousand and 8.0 thousand respondents present in the Russian labor market)