14.01.09

Moscow authorities propose charging a fee on employers hiring migrant workers. They hope that this new tax will encourage employers to hire more Russian citizens, explained Michael Solomentsev, head of Moscow’s committee on interregional relations and national policy.

He also pointed out that, if necessary, employers will be allowed to sell their unused slots on the foreign workers quota to other organizations for the same price originally paid for the quota slot.

Solomentsev reminded his audience that in 2009, the quota for foreign employees in Moscow will be cut by 50% (to 250,000). According to Solomentsev, “250,000 is Moscow’s true need for foreign labor; previously this number was greatly inflated.”

Currently there are 1.8 million migrant workers registered in Moscow, although only 260,000 have received work permits. Solomentsev noted, that in 2007 foreign workers transferred approximately 10-15 billion rubles back to their native countries, “which could have been working in our economy.”

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Source: Российский налоговый портал