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An expanded meeting of the Committee on Economic Integration of the SCO and the CIS on Employment Market in the SCO and CIS Countries Today took place at the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Moscow on January 13.
The participants discussed foreign labour migration problems and the role of chambers of commerce and industry (CCI) in their resolution. They also covered topics such as involvement and use of highly qualified specialists and workers from the SCO and the CIS, the creation and implementation of the legal and regulatory framework governing labour migration, as well as the CCI activities to provide services for entrepreneurs in the field of labour migration. In addition, they discussed the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's efforts to resolve labour migration issues in cooperation with federal executive authorities and partner organisations in the member states of the SCO and the CIS.
In his opening remarks, Sergei Katyrin, Head of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted the importance of this topic, which touches on many social and regulatory issues, adding that the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry focuses particularly on relations between businesses and labour migrants, and government policies in this sphere.
In turn, Vladimir Salamatov, Head of the Committee on SCO and CIS Economic Integration, gave a presentation on the labour market situation in the region and provided statistics about guest workers from different countries. He noted that demand is especially high for people qualified for senior management positions and other professions requiring advanced skills. Universities and private businesses are particularly affected by these personnel shortages. According to Mr. Salamatov, hiring such personnel can help implement the import substitution programme in the manufacturing industry.
An extensive report on international labour migration was presented by Sergei Boldyrev, Deputy Head of the Committee on SCO and CIS Economic Integration, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Labour Migration, and Programme Director at the non-profit Labour Migration International Alliance. He noted the enormous potential of the chambers of commerce system in Russia to improve labour market management by forming a modern and efficient system for regulating labour migration flows, attracting and distributing human resources, addressing labour shortages, and reducing the illegal use of immigrant workers. The Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Committee on SCO and CIS Economic Integration is working hard to get regional chambers more involved in labour migration, and to create the conditions and mechanisms necessary for finding workers with valuable skills in Russia and other countries.
Oleg Artamonov, Head of the Federal Migration Service's External Relations Department, also provided information about regulatory measures to control foreign labour migration and made a brief overview of the history of Russian legislation in this sphere.
Samat Aliyev, Deputy Director of the Business Development Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission, outlined new provisions of migration statutes that came into force in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) on January 1, 2015. He also provided examples of the barriers that impede the development of the legal labour market. He expressed support for allowing EAEU citizens to stay in other member countries for up to 90 days without a visa (currently, the term is limited to 30 days). Issues related to pensions and raising migrants' awareness of their rights are being reviewed.
Examples from Russian regions and other countries were provided as well. Vladimir Padalko, Director of the Department of Foreign Relations and Liaison with Business Councils at the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, provided a detailed overview of the People's Republic of China's labour migration policy. Odil Sangov, Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan and its representative in Moscow, spoke about the experience of Tajikistan. Svetlana Shirokaya, Head of the Committee for Stabilising the Labour Market at the Surgut Chamber of Commerce and Industry, joined the event via teleconference. Moscow's position was presented by Suren Vardanyan , Vice President of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Foreign migrant workers were represented by Renat Karimov, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Trade Union of Migrant Workers.
The event was also attended by Vladimir Volokh, Chairman of the Federal Migration Service's Public Council, and Yury Andriyashin Professor of the Moscow Institute of International Business.