Russia imposes 50% cap on migrant workforce in construction sector

Restrictions on the share of foreign workers in construction have been introduced in certain regions of Russia.

The new rules are part of a broader policy regulating migrant employment in key sectors of the economy, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

Starting January 1, a limit was imposed in several regions on the proportion of foreign workers at construction sites — no more than 50% of the total workforce. The measure was implemented under a government decree prepared by Russia’s Ministry of Labor and approved following the results of 2025. The document took effect on January 1, 2026.

Earlier, in August 2025, the Ministry of Labor proposed reducing the permissible share of foreign workers in nine economic sectors, including construction, from 80% to 50%. Violations of the quotas may result in fines or temporary suspension of operations.

Anton Glushkov, president of the National Association of Builders, noted that the impact of the quota reduction in 2026 might be limited. He explained that most migrant workers in construction are citizens of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan working under patents, which are not affected by the new restrictions. However, in the medium term, reducing quotas could exacerbate labor shortages, especially in unskilled positions.

Glushkov also warned that continued tightening of quotas could reduce interest in recruiting workers from other countries, including India. Currently, migrants make up an average of 13–15% of the construction workforce. Despite restrictions on access and qualifications, employers remain interested in hiring them to cover peak workloads.

At the same time, quotas do not apply in 21 regions of Russia, including the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, Saint Petersburg, Leningrad, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. In Dagestan, the limit is set at 30%, in Lipetsk region — 45%. In Kamchatka, Omsk, Yamalo-Nenets, and Khanty-Mansi regions, the quota remains at 80%, and in Astrakhan and Magadan regions — 70%.

By Khagan Isayev