Russia plans to legalize 5 million foreign workers
AFP, January, 2007
MOSCOW (AFP) — Russia plans to legalize five million foreign workers in an effort to clamp down on a shadow economy that sees billions of dollars leave the country illegally each year, top officials said. New legislation being prepared by the Russian government is to set a quota of six million legal foreign workers, up from just over one million today, the head of the Federal Labor and Employment Service Maxim Topilin told Moscow Echo radio station on Friday.
"Next year, once we receive replies from those who wish to be legalized, we plan to move to a structure of fulfilling the quota based on professions and qualifications," he said. Of the 1.15 million foreigners working legally in Russia today, 180,000 ...