Radish horseradish is not sweeter: why Indian guest workers can become a problem

Indian migrants to Russia: why this idea may turn into a problem? On this question Pravda.Ru Vladimir Mukomel, Head of the Center for the Study of Interethnic Relations at the Institute of Sociology of the Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, answers.

— What justifies the decision to bring in Millions of migrants from India to Russia, which was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov? Are we talking about a shortage of workers?

—Not exactly. The policy of attracting migrants from countries that are unusual for us is connected with the restructuring of migration policy. Last year there was a powerful information campaign, many bills were adopted, some of which, fortunately, were rejected. We are talking about a change of orientation: previously, the emphasis was placed on migrants from Central Asia who know Russian and often live for years in Russia.

After the tragedy in Crocus City, it was decided to abandon their settling in the country. The legislation was restructured in such a way as to limit the stay of non-working family members, to complicate the education of migrant children in Russian schools. The ideology of the new policy is simple: arrived — worked — left.

If people from Central Asia are not satisfied, they will attract migrants from Africa, India, and Latin America.

— That is, we are talking specifically about the shift model: worked and left?

—Yeah." But this scheme gives rise to many new problems. If they attract migrants, it means that employers need them. But Indian migrants are by and large not interesting to employers. Not to any extent.

— In Millions of migrants from Central Asia are already working in Russia, and even with them there are cultural and religious conflicts. Then what should Russians prepare for if we are talking about migrants from India with a completely different culture?

— The consequences are obvious. The authorities will try to settle them separately, minimize contacts with the local population. But it is impossible to completely avoid contacts. There will be much more problems than with immigrants from Central Asia. With those, with all the difficulties, you can negotiate.

— Society has already got used to them. Here there is ignorance of the language, a different culture, a lack of understanding of the norms of behavior. Plus the argument about the shortage of labor. But the import of low-skilled workers does not help the modernization of the economy and the introduction of technology. Is there a risk of technological lag?

— It is premature to talk about the technological race now. The economy is going through difficult times. Low-skilled foreign workers are in demand in the same place where they work now: in the service sector, trade, hotels, restaurants, home service and construction.

— Now they are still actively going to couriers.

—Yeah." But can you imagine, for example, an Indian Sikh courier? And God forbid to stretch out his left hand to him.

— In About ten thousand Indian citizens have already arrived in Russia, mostly from lower castes — the so-called untouchables. In India, they do the hardest and dirtiest work. How can they behave when they find themselves in a different cultural environment? There is an opinion that they become the object of recruitment of radicals.

— I would not exaggerate the importance of the caste division. India is changing, representatives of the lower castes are present in power today. The main problems will be different: these are relations with employers and with the host population. I don't see anything positive in the large-scale attraction of labor from India.

— Many men are now in the zone of a special military operation. Women are left alone. At the same time, India has one of the highest levels of sexual crimes. How serious is the threat to Russian women and did they think about it when making decisions?

— Unlike migrants from Central Asia, many of whom live in families, almost exclusively men will come from India. If not 100%, then 99%. The consequences can be extremely negative.

As for the second issue, migration policy today is not a social and economic policy. All key decisions are made by the Security Council. Its priority is the prevention of crime and terrorism. The economic and social consequences of such decisions, as a rule, are not fully calculated.

— Have the authorities applied to your center (the Center for the Study of Interethnic Relations of the Institute of Sociology of the National Research Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences) for an expert assessment before making such decisions?

— They do, yes. But, as is usually the case, the decision is made and brought from above.

— What do you think about the consequences of the importation of Indian migrants?

— My personal opinion is that the challenges are very serious, and we need to think about how to stop them now.

— It is obvious that it is important for the state to maintain social tranquility, especially during a difficult period.

— I agree. The main problem is that the interests of all participants in migration policy — the state, business, the population and the migrants themselves - are not taken into account. We need platforms to coordinate these interests, but in practice this does not always happen.

— If a migrant is completely disenfranchised, this inevitably gives rise to aggression. Perhaps it is time to build a balanced system that would take into account the interests of all parties and clearly define the rules of conduct and responsibility for their violation.

— Yes, then we will have to teach Indian citizens the basics of Russian legislation and norms of behavior.

— Do you have to learn Hindi first?

— They know English.