Labor migration policy of Russia is the struggle of opposites

In June 2012, the Russian president approved a document defining the long-term migration policy of Russia until 2025. The mere fact of developing the long-awaited concept suggests that state men have finally turned their face to a long-standing problem, and Russia's migration policy has interested the powers that be. After all, only according to official data provided by the FMS of Russia, more than ten million foreigners live and work in the federation. It's no secret that most of them entered the country illegally. And this is only official statistics. Many independent experts call much higher figures, and the newspapers are full of headlines about the dissatisfaction of the indigenous population with the influx of guest workers. So what is the state migration policy of the modern period?

First of all, in Russia there are two diametrically opposed opinions on the expediency of attracting labor from the near abroad. On the one hand, the authorities have repeatedly voiced the idea that only by attracting labor migrants, thanks to the use of a cheaper and more qualified labor force, it is possible to maintain the economic growth of the state and the welfare of the population.

But in reality, the migration policy has not been adjusted so much that it is not necessary to talk about a large influx of qualified personnel. Proceeding from this, a completely different opinion emerges - the emergence of hidden unemployment through the use of migrant labor. Gradually the share of the population with low incomes, ready to work with the underestimated level of a payment, only to have an opportunity to find employment grows. Low-paid unskilled work can not lead to an increase in labor productivity, and without it it is pointless to talk about economic growth.

The initiative of Prime Minister Medvedev, who believes that migration policy should be toughened by increasing fines and imposing severe criminal responsibility for organizing illegal migration, are no longer preventive measures. Years of uncontrolled visa-free entry created unique infrastructure in the field of migration legislation. Attracted migrant workers have created their debugged parallel world, with their branches of unofficial power. Meanwhile, the discontent of the indigenous population is growing everywhere, and it can not be said that the claims made are unfair. A number of Russian regions are oversaturated by labor migrants, and this situation creates competition in the labor market and translates into social tension. The existing migration policy does not solve the issues of tax payments, does not determine the order of medical care for newcomers, does not provide a balance between migrants and local residents.

The principles and tasks embodied in the above-mentioned concept are partly designed to solve a number of emerging issues. But too often the ideas and initiatives, voiced in the upper echelons of power, are perceived as an unquestioning guide to action and entail rash administrative decisions. Migration policy and the problems associated with it can not be subject to decisions made at the level of emotions. Toughening the degree of responsibility for illegal migration will not change the generally unfavorable picture.

To achieve positive changes in the field of labor migration is possible only with a comprehensive approach to understanding the ongoing processes and their phased rectification. It remains to be hoped that this concept, as the first adopted document that determines the priorities of the state migration policy, will not remain on paper only and will eliminate the existing contradictions between the population of Russia and the visiting workers.