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CONDITIONS OF ENTRY: CHANGES IN IMMIGRATION LAWS IN RUSSIA TO IMPACT ARMENIAN LABOR MOVEMENTS
Society | 13.01.15 | 11:07
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The recent changes in the Russian migration laws specify that
foreigners who violated the legal duration of their stay will be banned
from entering Russia. This has created new problems for some Armenian
migrant workers earning their living in Russia, which, in its turn,
according to specialists, will have its impact on the Armenian economy,
as the latter also depends on remittances wired by these workers in
Russia back home.
According to the new law in force since January 10, those who remain
in Russia 120 days longer than allowed by current immigration norms
will be banned from entry to the country for three years, in case of
overstaying by 270 days, the ban will be for five years, in case of
more than 360 days - ten years.
And foreigners entering Russia without a visa can stay in the country
no more than 90 days during a period of 180 days.
According to ethnographer Hranush Kharatyan, these restrictions
will have a negative impact both on the Armenians and on the general
economy of the country.
"This year the volume of Armenian migrant labor will significantly
decrease. The picture will be more vivid in February-March - during the
season of migrant labor. And the decrease of this migration will affect
not only individual families' life, but also the GDP of the country,
because at least one-third of the Armenian population does trade, uses
services in Armenia with the means brought from Russia, thus trade
and the opportunity of using services will decrease because we are
not a manufacturing country, but a trading one," the ethnographer says.
However, candidate of economic sciences, docent Vilen Khachatryan
thinks that even though the decrease of transfers will be noticeable,
there will be no slump.
"The Russian economy has always had the need in cheap labor, there
are studies showing that migrants' work is cheaper for Russia than
the locals', thus I think that it will not be that easy for Russia to
give up cheap labor," Khachatryan told ArmeniaNow, adding that even
if transfers did not decrease they would be devaluated, because the
Russian ruble is devaluating.
According to the economist, the bad condition the Russian economy is
in has a more negative impact on Armenian migration than the changes
of immigration law.
Head of Russia's Federal Migration Service Konstantin Ramadanovski
warned that upon the new restrictions for more than one million
foreigners entry to Russia might be banned for up to 10 years.
According to Ramadanovski, most of illegal residents in Russia are from
former Soviet countries, however it is not yet clear how many Armenian
citizens will be in that list. And despite Armenian membership in the
Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), it is said that the restrictions will
apply to Armenian citizens as well.
Nevertheless, sociologist, head of the Sociometer sociological center
Aharon Adibekyan believes that in any case Armenians will somehow
find a way out and will bypass the law.
"Armenians will anyways find a way out to get to Russia, even in
the case of countries that applied stricter measures Armenians still
would find ways to enter," the sociologist said.
http://armenianow.com/society/59730/armenia_russia_migrant_labor_laws_entry_ban
From: Baghdasarian
Society | 13.01.15 | 11:07
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The recent changes in the Russian migration laws specify that
foreigners who violated the legal duration of their stay will be banned
from entering Russia. This has created new problems for some Armenian
migrant workers earning their living in Russia, which, in its turn,
according to specialists, will have its impact on the Armenian economy,
as the latter also depends on remittances wired by these workers in
Russia back home.
According to the new law in force since January 10, those who remain
in Russia 120 days longer than allowed by current immigration norms
will be banned from entry to the country for three years, in case of
overstaying by 270 days, the ban will be for five years, in case of
more than 360 days - ten years.
And foreigners entering Russia without a visa can stay in the country
no more than 90 days during a period of 180 days.
According to ethnographer Hranush Kharatyan, these restrictions
will have a negative impact both on the Armenians and on the general
economy of the country.
"This year the volume of Armenian migrant labor will significantly
decrease. The picture will be more vivid in February-March - during the
season of migrant labor. And the decrease of this migration will affect
not only individual families' life, but also the GDP of the country,
because at least one-third of the Armenian population does trade, uses
services in Armenia with the means brought from Russia, thus trade
and the opportunity of using services will decrease because we are
not a manufacturing country, but a trading one," the ethnographer says.
However, candidate of economic sciences, docent Vilen Khachatryan
thinks that even though the decrease of transfers will be noticeable,
there will be no slump.
"The Russian economy has always had the need in cheap labor, there
are studies showing that migrants' work is cheaper for Russia than
the locals', thus I think that it will not be that easy for Russia to
give up cheap labor," Khachatryan told ArmeniaNow, adding that even
if transfers did not decrease they would be devaluated, because the
Russian ruble is devaluating.
According to the economist, the bad condition the Russian economy is
in has a more negative impact on Armenian migration than the changes
of immigration law.
Head of Russia's Federal Migration Service Konstantin Ramadanovski
warned that upon the new restrictions for more than one million
foreigners entry to Russia might be banned for up to 10 years.
According to Ramadanovski, most of illegal residents in Russia are from
former Soviet countries, however it is not yet clear how many Armenian
citizens will be in that list. And despite Armenian membership in the
Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), it is said that the restrictions will
apply to Armenian citizens as well.
Nevertheless, sociologist, head of the Sociometer sociological center
Aharon Adibekyan believes that in any case Armenians will somehow
find a way out and will bypass the law.
"Armenians will anyways find a way out to get to Russia, even in
the case of countries that applied stricter measures Armenians still
would find ways to enter," the sociologist said.
http://armenianow.com/society/59730/armenia_russia_migrant_labor_laws_entry_ban
From: Baghdasarian