Putin Eases Restrictions on Foreign Workers

The St. Petersburg Times (Published: June 24, 2014 (Issue # 1816) (Click here to original new) Russian IT companies will now have an easier time employing foreigners. Photo: Intel Free Press / Flickr President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Monday simplifying the process for foreign journalists and IT specialists to work in Russia, a statement on the Kremlin’s website said. Previously, to gain the status of a highly qualified specialist, a journalist was required to earn a salary of at least 2 million rubles ($59,000) per year. The new law reduces this sum to 1 million. Being a highly qualified specialist carries various advantages, including: employment-quota exemptions, residency permits and three-year visas. The new law was approved by the State Duma on June 11 and by the Federation Council on June 18. “The Federal Law is aimed at simplifying procedures for employing on Russia’s territory highly-trained foreign experts for Russian organizations operating in the field of information technology, as well as foreign journalists working for media outlets established specifically to disseminate information in foreign languages,” according to the statement. The statement did not specify when the law would take effect.