Nizhny Novgorod Eases Migrant Labor Restrictions to Combat Staffing Crisis

Authorities in the Nizhny Novgorod region of central Russia have lifted some restrictions on migrant labor in specific sectors after local businesses expressed concerns about critical workforce shortages.

In late March, Governor Gleb Nikitin enacted a decree prohibiting foreign workers, primarily from Central Asia, from being employed in 37 different industries.

However, on Wednesday, just over three months later, the regional administration announced that migrants would now be permitted to work in several essential sectors such as food service, logistics, warehousing, hospitality, and catering, among others.

This decision was made in response to requests from business owners who warned that the limitations would hinder their ability to maintain an adequate workforce.

“It’s significant that the authorities listened to businesses and acted decisively before the ban was implemented,” stated Pavel Solodkyi, the regional business ombudsman.

The revised decree is scheduled to take effect on Friday.

Currently, it is estimated that around 20,000 migrants are employed in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

The introduction of restrictions on migrant labor across various Russian regions began after a mass shooting incident in March 2024 at a concert venue near Moscow, which was attributed to the Islamic State.

Prior to this incident, only nine Russian regions had enacted such bans. Since 2015, regional governments have been granted the power to limit foreign employment for up to one year to regulate local labor markets and give preference to Russian citizens.