Russia’s surprise move: Thousands of Indians to earn big in Moscow – see how | World News

New Delhi/Moscow: India-Russia partnership continues to grow unaffected by external pressures. Beyond purchasing affordable oil from Russia, India is now preparing to benefit from a new opportunity that can be called a ‘return gift’. Russia, which is facing the most serious labor shortage in decades, is turning its attention to India, one of the Central Asian countries.

From clearing snow on Moscow streets to major construction projects, restaurants and welding workshops, Indian workers are expected to play a key role. The agreements signed during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India in December paved the way for thousands of Indians to find high-paying jobs in Russia.

Russia currently faces a serious labor shortage. Falling birth rates and ongoing military demands have created a huge gap in the workforce. By the end of this decade, Russia will need an estimated 11 million additional workers.

During Putin’s visit to New Delhi in December 2025, a formal agreement was signed between India and Russia to facilitate temporary labor migration processes. There has been an increase in the number of Indian workers receiving work permits in Russia. Only around 5,000 permits were issued in 2021, but last year that number rose to over 56,000.

In Russia, Indian workers are employed in municipal services such as snow removal, on construction sites, in restaurants and in technical fields such as welding. Russian companies prefer Indian labor over Central Asian countries like Tajikistan because Indian workers are contractual and visa-dependent, ensuring business continuity.

Training programs were launched to prepare Indian workers for jobs in Russia. The Russian Welders Association has opened a training center in Chennai to evaluate and train welders before they go to Russia.

To overcome language barriers, agencies offer intensive Russian courses for hospitality and service jobs, while construction sites employ managers who can speak both Russian and Indian languages ​​fluently, such as Hindi.

Initially, recruitment was focused on the Moscow region, but now Indian workers are being invited to Russia’s Far East, including Vladivostok and Sakhalin Island. The ongoing war has intensified the labor shortage, with many young Russians joining military or defense-related industries.

Additionally, approximately 500,000 to 800,000 citizens left the country to avoid conscription or to protest the conflict.

Companies across industries are feeling the pinch. Russia’s largest mining company, Norilsk Nickel, is facing a shortage of 10,000 employees. Shipbuilding company Ak Bars is operating at half capacity due to the absence of 2 thousand workers. Indian professionals have an economic advantage as skilled electricians can be hired at wages around 25% lower than Russian workers.

Russia also recruits labor from countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and North Korea. An estimated 50,000 North Korean workers will be employed on construction sites in Russia by the end of 2025. Chinese citizens mostly work in their own businesses, in logistics, restaurants and wholesale trade, rather than in local companies.

Experts say the labor shortage in Russia is not temporary. Demographic trends point to an aging population and a decreasing number of young workers. Countries with young workforces like India are expected to play a significant role in filling this gap in the coming decades.