PH Embassy in Moscow Meets Russian Labor Ministry Officials

Officials from the Philippine Embassy and Russia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MINTRUD) discuss issues relating to the possible employment of Filipino household service workers and nannies at their meeting on 04 March 2020. From left: Consultant of the Division for Labour Migration Mikhail Nizov, Chief of the Division for Labor Migration Dmitry Milnikov, Consultant of the International Cooperation Division Elena Gulyaeva, Philippine Consul General to Moscow Bob Ferrer, Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos D. Sorreta, and Embassy Interpreter Anastasia Vasileva. (A. Guerra photo)

MOSCOW 13 March 2020 – The Philippine Embassy in Moscow met with Russia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MINTRUD) on 04 March 2020 at the MINTRUD office to discuss issues relating to the legal deployment of Filipino workers to Russia.

The discussions centered on recent changes in Russian migration law which now allows for non-quota employment of Filipino household service workers and nannies.

“These recent changes are important as these will allow for the legal employment of Filipino household service workers and nannies in Russia outside the extremely limited number of quotas for these jobs. We see these new changes as a way to allow legal employment under these categories until we are able to negotiate and conclude a more comprehensive bilateral labor agreement with Russia,” Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos D. Sorreta said.

Among the issues discussed were the procedure and requirements, the important role of local and regional governments, which country will the appropriate visa be processed, and whether Filipinos already in Russia can be qualified. Also discussed was the legal recruitment process under Philippine law.

“What is clear from the discussion is that both the Philippines and Russia are determined to make sure that these new changes are not abused by illegal recruiters and human traffickers and that legitimate applicants are not exploited by illegal visa agents,” said Ambassador Sorreta. “In this vein, we also agreed to continue cooperating in documenting the exploitation and victimization of Filipino workers and to eventually bring those responsible to justice,” the Ambassador added.

According to Russian labor officials, there have still been no applications under these new changes to Russia’s migration law as the law is still at its early stages and Russian officials at the Federal and local level are still fine tuning the mechanics.

“We now have a better idea of these new changes. We have asked for more clarifications and sample documentation.  Once we get these and complete our assessment, the Embassy will hold a Kapihan sa Pasuguan to discuss these changes to Russia’s migration law, perhaps with the help of a Russian migration law expert from a leading law firm,” said Ambassador Sorreta.

Also discussed at the meeting were the next steps to be taken for the proposed bilateral labor agreement.

Representing MINTRUD at the meeting were Director of the Department of Employment Mikhail Kirsanov, Chief of the Division for Labor Migration Dmitry Milnikov, Consultant of the Division for Labour Migration Mikhail Nizov, and Consultant of the International Cooperation Division Elena Gulyaeva. The Philippine Embassy was represented by Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos D. Sorreta, Philippine Consul General to Moscow Bob Ferrer, Vice Consul Anna Guerra, and Embassy Interpreter Anastasia Vasileva. END

For more information, visit https://www.moscowpe.dfa.gov.ph, or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinRussia/ or https://twitter.com/phlinrussia.