23.08.07

As is well known, work permits should be obtained by all foreigners who plan to work in Russia. Since August 20th, the FMS website (fms.gov.ru) has offered an automated service for verification of work permits. By inputting six values for a foreign employee (such as last name, date of birth and permit number) one can receive confirmation by email whether the permit was indeed issued to the holder or if it is counterfeit.

The FMS assures that in the space of an hour the requested information will arrive via email to the person who requested it. However, they emphasize that this information is only referential and legally significant data must be obtained from a local FMS office.

The Migration Service is convinced that the system will simplify life for employers hiring foreign workers. If a foreigner’s work permit is counterfeit, the foreigner will not bear administrative liability; the fine will be paid by the company hiring the foreigner. Employing foreigners without a work permit is punishable by a 2,000 to 5,000 ruble fine if the employeer is a private entrepreneur, 25,000 to 50,000 rubles fine if an administrative official, and a fine from 250,000 to 800,000 rubles or forcible shutdown of a company for the period of three months if the employer is a company.

In the past, falsification of documents has been very widespread and forms have not been changed for approximately three years. Now new forms are introduced, but malefactors will learn to counterfeit them also, an FMS officer warns.

Also, it seems that many companies simply do not need the verification system. Some companies do not encounter counterfeit permits because they obtain the permits themselves. Marketplaces do not need a migration database because since April 1st they have been forbidden to hire foreigners.

This brings up the question, why was it created? The answer is simple. According to FMS statistics, there are 4.7 million foreigners officially registered in Russia, and work permits were obtained only by 1.54 million. What the others are doing is unknown.

In testing the system an experiment was conducted. A request for information related to two (fictional) employees had still not been received after eight hours.

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Source: Vedomosti