St. Petersburg Bans MIgrant Workers From Gym, Hair Salon and Store Work

St. Petersburg authorities have introduced a ban on foreign citizens with work permits from working in retail, healthcare, beauty salons, and fitness centers. This decision comes as part of a broader effort to combat "shadow employment" and reduce reliance on low-skilled foreign labor, according to local media. Governor Alexander Beglov's decree expands on existing restrictions that last year limited migrant workers from driving taxis and delivering food.

Employers have until December 15 to ensure their workforce complies with the new regulations. The restrictions do not apply to highly skilled specialists, foreigners with work permits, or citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, or Kyrgyzstan. Additionally, citizens of Azerbaijan, Moldova, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are exempt from the ban, as are those from other visa-free countries eligible to obtain a work permit in Russia.

Similar targeted bans on foreign labor have been implemented in numerous other Russian regions and occupied Ukrainian territories, following a federal push for restrictions on foreign labor in the wake of the March 2024 Crocus City Hall terrorist attack. Russian authorities have also criminalized The Moscow Times as an undesirable organization, labeling the publication as a foreign agent, in an attempt to silence independent journalism in the country.

The journalists of The Moscow Times refuse to be silenced and are calling for support to continue their work, emphasizing their commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia.