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Putin calls for tougher requirements for immigrant workers

Criminal responsibility is envisioned for repeated violations of migration legislation
Photo ITAR-TASS/ Stanislav Krasilnikov
Photo ITAR-TASS/ Stanislav Krasilnikov

BOR HOLIDAY CENTER /Moscow region/, October 3 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Vladimir Putin believes it is necessary to work towards tougher requirements for migrants. At a meeting with senior United Russia Party officials on Thursday, he suggested that the government should think about selecting the kinds of activity where migrants could be replaced with local residents, such as trade.

"Should legislation be toughened? Yes, it should," he said reminding that this work was already underway and that the parliament approved the 1st reading of the relevant bill.

"Criminal responsibility is envisioned for repeated violations of migration legislation," he went on.

The work to streamline the situation in the migration sphere should be conducted in many areas, including places of where migrants are staying and places of their origin. "Also, it is necessary to combat corruption. Law-enforcement bodies should not profit from it, according to the president.

Putin urged Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who was taking part in the meeting, to come up with a list of activities for migrants. In some jobs, they could be replaced with local residents, the president said. "Is it difficult to find employees in trade?" Putin asked.

Perhaps, migrants should continue working at construction sites; it is hard work and salaries there are small; also, migrants could be in some other branches of the economy. The president noted that it was wrong to treat migrants as potential criminals. "There are bona fide and law-abiding people and there are criminals; it does not depend on religion on nationality," he emphasized.

"If they come for jobs which local residents do not take, it is necessary to protect their interests: they should know the customs and laws of the region and observe them; and if they don't, Russian laws should apply to them," Putin said.