About myself
I ended up in Moscow in 1997, by chance. In Minsk I worked as a forwarding agent, quarreled with my bosses and decided to go earn money. I had neither relatives nor acquaintances in the capital. I acted simply - I bought a pack of newspapers and started studying classified ads. At that time, advertisements about recruiting workers for Moscow enterprises were printed. I signed up as a general laborer at a bread factory - they promised $1.6 per hour plus a hotel and meals. For those times, the money was decent, up to $400 a month. They paid wages regularly. For my diligence I was even promoted - they sent me to study at advanced training courses. After a year the agency fell apart, and I had to become an independent working unit. Friends found two shops in Zhulebino, we needed to do repairs there. We agreed with the owners. When we completed most of the work, problems arose. The owners decided to save money and scam us. They kept us like slaves - locked doors, boarded windows. In the end, they paid a minimum - just enough for the return trip to Minsk. Now, after seven years in Moscow, when I have some connections, I'm not afraid of anything. But then - what could you do?
About bribes
Then I met the director of a construction company. He invited me and my comrades to work on his apartment. He liked the renovation - and I became his site foreman. And now I started working independently - I've built a reputation, clients come. True, competition has increased now. There are fewer orders and the money is not what it was 3-4 years ago. On average, a skilled worker gets about $800 a month. Naturally, nobody pays taxes. There are enough extortions as it is. Moscow is a terrible city. I don't know how you can live here - only to make money. Everyone profits from whatever they can. Our firm, where I am officially employed, pays about $2,000 monthly to the militia for 'protection'. Not to mention that ordinary militiamen and migration service employees are constantly hanging around construction sites. If they catch someone without registration - pay at least 500 rubles per person. As soon as we take people in, we immediately offer them to get registration and a work permit. The first costs 1.5 thousand, the second - about 6 thousand rubles. Many refuse. In that case we honestly warn them: they'll be taken to the station and will demand a 'ransom' - it will all be deducted from their salary.
About drunkards and parasites
We don't deceive workers. Although I know such practice exists. The main problem is unskilled personnel and drunkenness, which is why we part with many. Now clients specify a special condition in the contract - large fines if they even just smell alcohol. Once we were doing ventilation for $10,000. We had almost finished everything. The client arrived. And it happened to be some holiday, he saw that the guys were drinking beer. And that's it - from those $10,000 they got $400 each for six people. So now we are strict - first time we deduct $100, second time $200, and then goodbye. Although I try to hire guys only on recommendation, I often miss the mark. They say: we can do everything. You put them on a site - and it's a bubble. Then I have to redo it at my own expense. And they come up and ask: when will we get paid? For what? For watching me work? Some start threatening. They say, we'll go to church and light a candle for your soul, or bring a tough brother from home. That is, still Soviet mentality. Some adapt. Others leave offended. Maybe that's why the myth of metropolitan exploiters and disenfranchised guest workers is being created.