migrant workers Moscow
Migrant Workers
in Moscow
Vocabulary
| extra | employer | manage (2) |
| floor | right (5) | sign up for |
| ex | supply (2) | come/came/come |
| employ | typically | go/went/gone |
| laborer | come back | problematic |
| mason | employee | unemployed |
| hire | carpenter | take/took/taken |
| deficit | charge (4) | less/lesser/the least |
| former | critical (2) | according to |
| stay | pandemic | province (2) |
| despite | factor in | cost/cost/cost |
| wage | percent | around (2) |
| prompt | shortage | authorities |
| migrant | remain (3) | lay/laid/laid |
| apply | permit (2) | regardless |
| term (3) | purpose | demand (2) |
| expert | estimate | experience |
| wage | seek/sought/sought |
Video: Migrant Construction Workers
Transcript
These laborers have to work extra long hours, because millions of masons, carpenters and floor layers from other former Soviet Union countries aren’t able to come.
Vitaly Lychits, Granelle Deputy Director: “Migrants who came to Russia managed to work till the end of the year. Then they went back home for holidays. And now it’s problematic for them to come back.”
His company typically employs workers from poorer, ex-Soviet countries like Armenia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. They take jobs few Muscovites sign up for. And charge less than Russian workers.
Vitaly Lychits, Granelle Deputy Director: “According to our company’s experience, there’s a thirty percent (30%) deficit in the supply of foreign workers now.
However, it’s not critical for us, as we are hiring Russian workers from the provinces, despite the fact that we have to factor in extra labor costs.”
Their wages are up to twenty percent (20%) higher than those of foreign laborers, he says.
The labor shortage also prompted Russian authorities to simply laws for migrant workers.
Valentina Chupik, Lawyer: “Migrants who stay here have a right to apply for a work permit, regardless of their stay work terms in Russia, and regardless of the purpose of their stay.”
Before the pandemic, Russia had around ten million migrant workers, according to estimates by labor experts. If all of them will ever return to Russia remain uncertain, as some of them are now seeking work in Turkey, Iran and the EU.
Questions
Construction Worker. At present, construction workers in Moscow can only find part-time work. True or false?
Carpenter. Is there a labor shortage in Moscow because the authorities rounded up and deported migrant workers?
Electrician. Most of the migrant workers in Moscow are from Mexico, Morocco, Romania, India and the Philippines. Is this right or wrong?
Plumber. Why do contractors and builders hire foreigners? Why don’t they hire local Moscovites?
Mason. Is it extremely difficult for foreigners and migrants to obtain legal status (work visas and residency) in Russia? Has the situation changed?
Mechanic. More and more Azerbaijanis, Georgians, Kazakhs and Turkmen wish to come and work in Russia. Is this correct or incorrect?
Truck Driver. Many migrants live and work in my city and country. Yes or no?
House Painter, Wall Paper Installer. Who are these migrants? Where are they from? What do they do?
Furniture Maker, Cabinet Maker. Many people from my country live, study and work abroad.
Carpet Installer. Are there certain jobs that locals shun? Why don’t they want to do them?
Tiler. Is immigration a very controversial topic? Are there lots of debates and arguments? Is there xenophobia?
Roofer. What might happen in the future?
Air Conditioning and Heating Installer. What should locals, immigrants and authorities do?
