The creators of the new trade union openly say that it was formed with the knowledge and support of the presidential administration and law enforcement agencies. The newborn organization faces a global political goal - to eradicate illegal migration and force employers to comply with laws and pay taxes. To this end, it plans to use all means, including public oversight to gather information about egregious violators. The new OPS “MigRos” also proposes creating an expert council under the Federal Migration Service, which would include major businesspeople and public figures, to draft amendments to migration legislation. The trade union hopes that this council will also acquire more substantial powers.
"First, we want to simplify the procedure for obtaining permits for foreign labor," Gennady Mironov, chairman of OPS “MigRos”, told Izvestia. "Since civil servants currently cannot cope with the enormous workload, an expert council could take over some of their functions. For example, monitoring enterprises that employ migrants, participating in the distribution of quotas. For organizations with a solid reputation, a simplified procedure could be introduced."
"So large companies will become monopolies and get a legal opportunity to push unwanted competitors out of the market?"
"Well, why? Anyone can get the right to a simplified procedure. But first they must prove they can do something. Naturally, the approach will differ for a company that has been on the market for 10-15 years and for newcomers who registered yesterday."
Ordinary guest workers will not be ignored either - they plan to organize legal and cultural education for them. You come to Russia - be so kind as to take Russian language courses and get a certificate confirming your professional qualifications. Only after that can you apply for a permit to work in Russia. True, this measure will most likely affect only citizens of the former USSR.
Gennady Mironov, the chief union organizer, categorically denies suspicions that the “training courses” will hit migrants' wallets - employers must pay for everything. The trade union, in turn, will ensure that contracts with salaries are concluded with foreigners. If the contract is terminated due to the employer's fault, the employer pays a penalty. If the worker himself runs away, he faces immediate deportation. An electronic database of migrants is planned - including whether there are complaints about their work, whether they obey the law, what salary they deserve, etc. The trade union also intends to create a blacklist of scam companies and unscrupulous recruiting agencies.
"All this will help establish control over migration flows," Mironov continues. "We are currently working on creating trade union branches in CIS countries - then we will be able to obtain reliable information about what people and how many of them go to Russia for work."
"And what methods will you use to fight companies that use illegal immigrants?"
"It is enough to inform the FMS about it, and the company will start having problems. We need to work in a civilized manner. After all, we have an article on failure to report a crime. Today he arrives as a migrant without permission to work, and tomorrow he will bring a bag of plastic explosives here. Now normal employers themselves are interested in legalizing workers. Everyone has already realized that hiring cheap illegal workers and then kicking them out and redoing defective work is unprofitable."
For now, joining the trade union is completely free. The organizers explain this as a way to popularize the movement. Subsequently, each “new convert” will have to pay an entrance fee of 300 rubles and monthly contributions of 150-300 rubles (depending on income). The money, as promised, will go to ensure minimal social guarantees: medical care, protection from illegal dismissal, monitoring compliance with safety regulations at workplaces, as well as creating a fund to finance deportation.