Russia to Replace Migrant Patent System with Rotational Work Model

Russia is set to overhaul its migrant labour laws, abolishing the current patent system in favour of a new rotational work model. A law to this effect is expected to be passed in the autumn, according to State Duma faction leader Sergey Mironov. The new system will operate on a "came - worked - left" basis, significantly altering the conditions for foreign workers in the country.

The initiative gained momentum after a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and State Duma faction leaders on 18 September. Sergey Mironov, who is also the chairman of the "A Just Russia – For Truth" party, announced after the meeting that the patent system would soon be abolished and replaced by a rotational work system. President Putin indicated that the proposal to abolish the patent system could be considered, which Mironov interpreted as a "green light" for the draft law. Mironov told journalists that the State Duma could pass the law during its autumn session.

Russia's Minister of Economic Development, Maksim Reshetnikov, elaborated on the "rotational work" method, stating that the mechanism for attracting foreign labour needs to be strictly regulated. He described the principle as "came – worked – left". Under this new system, migrants will not be permitted to bring their families to Russia or enrol their children in local schools. "People come from other countries, earn money, and leave. We objectively do not need families here, we are not obliged to educate people who are not our citizens," Reshetnikov stated.

The patent system for migrant workers has been in place in Russia since 2010. It allowed migrants to pay a fee to live and work in certain regions and to seek employment freely without being tied to a single company. The abolition of patents could make it much more difficult for many migrants to find work quickly in Russia, potentially leading to mass deportations.