The interior policy department in Russia has put forward a draft that would broaden access controls for businesses, potentially lifting the current pause on inspections. The aim is to strengthen oversight of foreign residents staying on Russian soil. To implement this, the proposal envisions the creation of a new administrative inspection body, information about which appeared on the portal of normative legal acts.
According to the draft, the bill would remove the administrative barriers that currently constrain the powers of internal affairs bodies over supervision. In the explanatory note, violations are likely to be prevented and addressed primarily by focusing checks on places that immigrants frequent and that are often owned by legal entities. These sites include construction sites, retail facilities, industrial enterprises, markets, and hotels.
The authors contend that the existing moratorium on inspections of business representatives hinders law enforcement from identifying violations of immigration laws by companies. Consequently, enforcement actions aimed at spotting violators of immigration legislation have been, in their view, formal in nature and limited in effectiveness.
On April 28, Maxim Reshetnikov, head of the Ministry of Economic Development, spoke about a fourfold rise in the number of migrant workers from Uzbekistan over the preceding seven years. He noted that three thousand companies operate in Uzbekistan with Russian capital participation, and seven hundred of these enterprises were established in 2022 alone.
Analysts suggest that the proposed changes reflect a broader governmental effort to recalibrate controls over migrant labor and capital flows. Supporters argue that tighter supervision is necessary to ensure compliance with immigration and labor laws, reduce informal employment, and safeguard the interests of businesses that play by the rules. Opponents raise concerns about overreach, potential disruption to legitimate commerce, and the rights of workers who depend on stable and lawful employment arrangements. The debate underscores the complexity of balancing security, economic vitality, and fair treatment in a rapidly evolving labor market.