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Duma suggests excluding construction firms from SRO for migration abuse.

The draft law also amends the Criminal Code to add new articles

MOSCOW, July 19 (Itar-Tass) —— The State Duma has suggested excluding construction firms from self-regulation organisations (SROs) if they have repeatedly violated legislation when hiring migrants.

The head of the Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, Irina Yarovaya of United Russia, who submitted the relevant draft law to the lower house of parliament, said a considerable number of workers are employed in the field of construction (31 percent of all employees) and it is construction firms that “violate migration legislation most often when hiring foreign labour”.

The draft law amends the Russian City Development Code in order to provide for “excluding organisations conducting engineering surveys, draft design documentation or perform construction work from the self-regulation organisation if they have been repeatedly penalised for violation of migration legislation within one year”.

To ensure that construction firms do not hide such violations, Yarovaya also suggested amending the Code of Administrative Offences to require “the officials and bodies that issued an administrative offence resolution to send its copy to the self-regulation organisation”.

The draft law also amends the Criminal Code to add new articles: “Unlawful employment of foreign citizens or stateless persons” and “Unlawful provision of residential and non-residential premises to foreign citizens or stateless persons”.

The former article envisages a fine of up to 200,000 roubles, or mandatory work during 360 hours, or correctional labour for up to one year, or compulsory work for up to two years and a ban on holding certain positions or carrying out certain activities for up to one year or without such ban.

The latter article imposes similar penalties. However if dwelling premises have been provided to foreigners by an organised group, it will face harsher penalties: imprisonment up to three years and a fine of up to 300,000 roubles or in the amount equalling the salary of the convict or another income for up to two years. Criminal penalties will be imposed only for repeated violations of legislation, Yarovaya said.

“These legislative initiative have been prepared as part of the United Russia faction’s road map,” she said.

Combating illegal migration is one of the key factors in the protection of people’s labour rights that directly affects Russia’s public security and socio-economic development.