In the Novgorod region, authorities introduced a prohibition on hiring foreign nationals for certain kinds of work. Reports from TASS, citing the regional government’s press service, note that immigrants will not be allowed to serve in taxi services or in roles that involve transporting passengers.
The official document specifies that foreign citizens engaged in patent-based labor in the field of regular passenger transportation by buses, passenger taxis, and chauffeured rental cars within urban and suburban routes are prohibited from employment. The restriction also covers those involved in intercity passenger transportation by bus services.
The order requires employers who currently employ foreigners in these sectors to terminate such employment by June 26, 2024.
Earlier, officials in the Samara region restricted immigrant work in education and in the provision of transport services, and the rules also touched on activities carried out through recruitment agencies. Regional authorities added that the regional governor directed law enforcement agencies to monitor the implementation of the decision with strict vigilance.
Similarly, the Nizhny Novgorod region announced prohibitions on attracting foreigners who work in taxi-related activities under patent-based labor agreements.
In November 2023, Irina Zaripova, president of the Public Council for Taxi Development, commented on the taxi labor shortage in Russia. She suggested that immigrants could be employed in this field on a temporary basis, with the possibility of additional traffic police examinations to ensure road safety and compliance with regulations.
Reports also reference insurers connected to the taxi industry, noting that a particular taxi car brand has been frequently involved in road incidents within Russia.