The third reading of the bill might only take place next week, as State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin raised concerns about the Ministry of Labor`s compiled list of professions. This list proposes inviting foreign specialists to work in Russia under a quota without requiring them to pass a Russian language test.
Photo: Shchegoleva Olga / Photobank Lori
The State Duma has approved, in its second reading, a bill to exempt migrants arriving in Russia under a quota from the Russian language exam. However, the third reading was unexpectedly postponed.
This initiative concerns labor migrants from non-CIS countries who require a visa to enter Russia. The government allocates a specific quota for their employment. This year, slightly over 230,000 individuals are eligible to enter Russia under this quota. However, according to the Ministry of Labor, only a quarter of this quota has been utilized so far.
Nevertheless, lawmakers found it unusual to exempt even this number of foreign specialists from the Russian language exam, especially considering that the bill specifies a list of professions for these migrants, including drivers, salespeople, and social workers.
«How will they work with people if they don`t know the language?» State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin exclaimed during the plenary session. He even requested the Ministry of Internal Affairs to scrutinize the Ministry of Labor`s work due to this list:
Why are you inviting specialists whom we already have? Those who might not know the language, categories like drivers, salespeople — they need to communicate, they must know the language. We will handle the law this way: we will consider the bill in the second reading today, but we will not consider it in the third reading — we will decide next week. And you, colleagues, take some time to work on it, and then you will answer all questions, having adjusted your order based on public demand.
Business FM inquired with representatives from various sectors of Russian business about which professions, in their opinion, permit labor migrants to be unfamiliar with the Russian language, and which unequivocally require proficiency.
Dmitry Filippov Director of Rusit Group of Companies (textile production):
We are currently facing a situation where garment factories employing many Vietnamese workers are pressured to make them pass the Russian language exam. Typically, these are compact companies where only Vietnamese people work; they communicate among themselves and with sewing machines. Knowledge of the Russian language is, to put it mildly, not very much in demand for them. Attempts are being made to teach them now, but since they barely use the language, it`s wasted time and effort. Therefore, for professions like sewers in the textile industry, where there is no interaction with clients, I believe the requirement for Russian language proficiency is irrelevant. I understand that a driver, a salesperson, a hairdresser, and so on must know Russian, because otherwise, instead of a stylish haircut, they might give you a bowl cut and say: `Sorry, I didn`t understand.`
— Where are quota migrants truly needed?
— There`s a great need today for sewers, construction workers, and agricultural workers. It`s probably impossible to manage without migrants in these sectors today. As a rule, among foreigners, there`s usually one person who speaks the language more or less, and he translates for his colleagues if something is unclear.
Dmitry Minin CEO of Atlant Project and Construction Company:
— In the construction industry, it`s possible to work without knowing the language because, as a rule, these employees have their foremen who know the language and manage them. For our industry, this is fine.
— What about upper-level positions in the construction industry?
— For those, personnel must know Russian. But migrants are not only involved in the construction industry. For example, we have migrants in delivery, in taxis. And there, it`s impossible to work without knowing Russian.
Alexey Gutsulyak Development Director of Taxipark «369»:
— Most likely, construction sites and our wonderful streets can be swept and cleaned without language proficiency. As for cars, probably not, because knowing the language and interacting with clients is necessary. Language knowledge is not critical if they are truly good specialists in the service sector, meaning car maintenance; professionalism is key, like the ability to work with engines, gearboxes, and so on. I think this could indeed be beneficial for us, especially since there`s currently a significant shortage of service staff, specifically auto mechanics.
— Are quotas needed?
— In our field, they are needed specifically for service staff, auto mechanics. I haven`t encountered drivers who don`t speak at least some Russian. We have a few guys from Africa, but they speak Russian perfectly.
Andrey Korolev Professor, Surgeon, Orthopedist, Traumatologist, Chief Physician of Mars Clinic:
Medicine is a field where language proficiency is strictly necessary. This applies not only to doctors and nurses, of course, but also to junior medical staff, i.e., orderlies. Theoretically, women working in cleaning might not know the language. But even that is very difficult. I can hardly imagine a situation where some magical employees, unfamiliar with the specifics, not knowing the language, not knowing cultural peculiarities, are brought in from somewhere, and these magical people miraculously begin to improve the level of Russian medicine. Without knowing Russian, one can, for example, lay asphalt; largely, within a month, they will start understanding words like `right,` `left,` `forward,` `backward,` `salary,` `drink,` `eat.` One can learn that in any language in just a few weeks. 50 words and you`ll be able to communicate decently. But medicine is not being considered, so only primitive work: people are hired for seasonal work – cotton picking, strawberry picking. Of course, there are professions where you are not required to know Russian: you take a shovel, they show you the area of activity – you dig from the fence until lunch.
Volodin suggested that the bill`s third reading might take place during the final sessions of the current period — on July 22 or 23 — allowing the Ministry of Labor to provide comments and clarifications regarding the proposed list by then.
