There is competition among Indians for jobs in Russia
There is a severe shortage of workers in Russia amid the protracted war with Ukraine and declining population. The situation is such that Russia is now emerging as a new and big market for Indian workers who once migrated to Gulf countries. Be it a construction site, oil-gas refinery or manufacturing units, Russia is in dire need of Indian hands at this time. Statistics of the last four years show that the number of Indian workers going to Russia has increased by about 60 percent.
Packages ranging from Rs 50 thousand to Rs 1.5 lakh
If we look at the data of recruitment agencies, the minimum starting salary of an Indian laborer in Russia is Rs 50,000 per month. This is an amount which is much more than the salary received in India. But the earning doesn’t stop here. If you have good work experience and you work overtime, this figure can easily reach Rs 1.5 lakh per month.
The special thing is that Russian companies often provide free accommodation and food facilities to those working in mines, refineries and oilfields. This means that a large part of your salary can go directly into savings. However, living on your own in big cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg may prove to be a bit expensive. Blue-collar jobs like welders, carpenters, electricians, drivers and factory operators are most abundant here. Whereas, if you are highly qualified in IT or engineering, then the salary package can go up to Rs 1.8 lakh.
After all, why did Russia need Indians?
Russia is currently facing a double blow. On one hand, its population is aging rapidly, due to which there are fewer working youth. On the other hand, due to the Ukraine war, a large number of local youth are deployed on the front. The Russian Labor Ministry estimates that the country will need 11 million additional workers by the end of the decade. Earlier Russia was dependent on the countries of Central Asia to meet its labor shortage, but now its trust has increased on Indians. In the year 2024 itself, Russia has issued work permits to about 72,000 Indians, which is about one-third of the total foreign labor quota there. A large number of people from states like West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are now moving to Russia.
Avoid fraud, choose the right path
It is very important to follow the correct procedure to get a job in Russia, because it is difficult to apply directly here. First of all you should contact government licensed recruitment agencies in India that send manpower to Russia. You can check the Russian jobs section of portals like Layboard or Naukri or the listings of agencies like BCM Group.
The most important document when a job is confirmed is the ‘Invitation Letter’, which is issued by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Without this it is impossible to get a work visa. After this you will have to submit passport, medical certificate (which includes HIV test), police clearance and educational documents. The visa fee can range between Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 and it takes 7 to 20 days to be processed. After reaching Russia, you will have to register with the migration authority there, after which you will get a plastic card for work permit.
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