Russian president calls for tighter migration policies and training programs

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed tightening the requirements for migrants coming to Russia to ensure they respect the country’s laws and culture. He made these remarks during the program “Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin” on December 19.

Putin emphasized the need to train the population of Central Asia for work in Russia. He suggested establishing Russian schools in Central Asian countries to teach the Russian language and culture.

Acknowledging that migration is a "very delicate and acute" issue, Putin pointed out that Russia faces a severe labor shortage, with hundreds of thousands of vacancies. To reduce reliance on foreign labor, he proposed increasing labor productivity and focusing on high-tech industries. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of engaging with the countries of origin to address migration challenges effectively.

Putin also called for strengthened measures by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to manage migration more effectively. He proposed creating a specialized center to oversee migration policies, authorized by representatives of economic departments. Once operational, the center could eventually evolve into a dedicated department.

“When the center matures and acquires the necessary powers, a separate department can be created,” Putin noted.

Earlier, a report on the highest-paying jobs for foreign workers in Russia was published, further underlining the country’s reliance on migrant labor.