Lack Of Workers, Russia Wants To Open Migrant Doors From Asia Including Myanmar

Russian President Vladimir Putin/Obviously Alexander Kazakov/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

JAKARTA - Russia wants to expand the source of its migrant workers outside the former Soviet republic to Asian countries including Myanmar.

With an unemployment rate of 2.3% low, President Vladimir Putin called the labor shortage a problem.

Severstal steel producers before criticizing regional measures that prohibit migrant workers from working in the construction sector.

Residents of the former Soviet Union have traditionally dominated the workforce of Russian migrants.

"We should not just be fixated on countries where we usually attract migrants," Interfax reported, citing Economic Minister Maxim Reshetnikov's remarks at the lower house of parliament.

"We need to look at new countries because there are many countries in the world that are actively, secretly, and aware of exporting their labor resources," Reshetnikov said.

"We have to be ready for this," he added.

Russia has discussed with Myanmar, said Reshetnikov, which has about 6 million of its 55 million people working abroad.

Putin held talks with Myanmar leaders and military junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in the Kremlin on Tuesday.

Massive recruitment by the armed forces and the defense industry has withdrawn workers from civilian companies, and hundreds of thousands of Russians have left the country since Russia shipped tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine in February 2022.

Workers from Central Asia have described the increasing hostilities towards them in Russia since Islamist militants from Tajikistan attacked concert venues near Moscow in March 2024, killing 145 people.

"We have a clear understanding that without competent migration regulations, it would be very difficult for us to move forward and meet the market with manpower, and we need to look at these things openly and discuss them," Reshetnikov said.

Apart from China, Russia is a supporter of the Myanmar military and the two countries have vetoed UN Security Council resolutions condemning alleged human rights abuses in the country.