Indians Pouring into Russia – What Lies Beneath

In December 2020, when I officially took up the reins of the international office at MISIS University in Moscow, our international student number had been falling since from an all-time high in 2018. COVID-19 was the easy blame, though the troubles lay deeper. There was terrible post-arrival support, lack of English-speaking staff in the front office and no creditable employment opportunities for new arrivals. And a fake ‘international society’ which was run by local lowlifes using foreign students for their own means.

Bucking the trend in Russia, I presented our recruitment campaign for 2020-22. We would look at South Asia and focus on countries who were Russia-friendly, producing quality students, and English-speaking for the most part. In Summer 2021 we secured 14 Indian students (we’d a total of 3 in the entire student body in 2020) and doubled that number in 2022. Quickly other universities followed our lead and lost their snobbish disdain for the subcontinent. Yet, I will add that two other universities were, like MISIS, ahead of the game. Ulyanovsk and Crimean State Universities filled their high-class medical schools with Indian students, though only the latter provided quality ‘post-sales’ support.

But, that’s education and students, many of whom see Russia as a bridge to Europe or North America. They’re not the main reason why the number of Indian migrants to Russia leapt by 24.6% in a year.

Indian Workers in Demand

A report released last week by the Russian authorities stated that 71,800 Indian workers arrived in the country compared to the same period last year, adding that there are 234,900 legal workers from India in Russia.

It was noted that the majority are from Punjab, Bihar and Uttar-Pradesh, with a reason given that they can earn up to 60% more in Russia than at home. The sectors they’re mostly employed in? Services and construction. Russian companies are “lapping up” Indian workers, according to experts at the country’s biggest HR event last week.

At Personal Expo 2025 one of the largest stands, at the main entrance, was dedicated to how “profitable” it was to hire Indian staff. I thought, haven’t I seen this before (Hello Ireland…). So, I’m sure our readers want to know the opinions of the top hiring bosses in the land, right? Well, you’ve come to the right place.

“We made the decision because it aligns with our policy to diversify the workplace,” said Daria Demina, HR Director of French-owned Auchan retail chain. (disclaimer: huge respect for Auchan who stood up for Russian workers and their benefits package is top notch).

 “Burger King has a history of hiring foreign students as our hours fit around their studies. We present a career, not just salary,” told Natalia Sentyuleva, head of BK’s corporate university. (disclaimer: Burger King worked with me to give 20 well paid part-time positions to my international students from MISIS in March 2022 when the same kids were unable to receive money from home after SWIFT was cut off).

“There is a deficit, major, in our workforce with the special military operation and there is no choice but to turn to other markets for labour. India, with our special relationship, is ideal. We have more than a hundred and twenty working in (various) roles,” the HR Director of one Russian vehicle manufacturer told me.

And yet, it was not all rose petals being scattered about. There was, and is, a rather dark side.

Stranded On Strange Shores

Rahul (not his real name) was 32, from Gurugram and lived for 2 months in a church near the Moscow region town of Fryazino. He came to Russia to take up a PhD course at a leading Russian university in 2024. Arriving into the country in December, Rahul was set to begin Russian-language classes in mid-January. A part-time job was guaranteed for him and then it all went wrong. The university had been stripped of their licence to conduct preparatory courses due to massive corruption and the agency in India “failed to inform” him.

The university, correctly, said they could not accommodate him in their halls of residence and he was left to find a hostel to live in. The job, likewise, fell through and quickly he was out of money and his visa deemed invalid. The next part he didn’t explain, however a kindly priest took pity on him and gave him a small room on the church property in exchange for labour. In April this year he got enough money from home to get out of Russia.

“I did all the things correct, sir. I made all documents, papers, all correct. I warn any student who wishes to go, be careful.”

 I called the agency representative in Russia, who claimed that Rahul was fully assisted “as per his contract”. The responsibility of the agency, who collected $5,000 in fees, ended when he set foot in the university. “We were unaware of the licence revocation.” A strange claim given that they were still selling the institution as a destination in Russia. (disclaimer: they have since removed it).

Driving And Building Russian Industry

Ulyanovsk Automobile Factory, or UAZ for short, have over 100 Indian workers on their assembly lines. Other auto plants have similar numbers, with the migrants on 12-month contracts. One employee in Ulyanovsk said the work “pays far better than at home” and another that it’s “safer than in Arabia”. I asked what that meant, I lived in Saudi for 2 years so it could be anything.

“I have my passport in my hand, can leave when I wish and was home for the wedding of my brother. In Qatar I had my documents taken after arriving and when the death of my mother was happening, the employer refused to (give) leave.”

Recently when in Ekaterinburg I was able to speak with three Indian workers employed in construction. The trio, from Haryana, said their conditions were “tolerable” and the pay “at least two times” what they earned at home for the same work. However, they complained of discrimination – but not by Russians.

“Most recently we were in Gulliver (shopping centre) food court and next to our table were Indians who work in the Ramada (hotel). They turned their faces from us and made very rude remarks because we work in construction.”

The men laughed when they explained that while their work is more arduous, they earn substantially more. Although they saw the humour in it, it is a situation I’ve bumped into many times as a migrant. The idiocies from home are easily carried abroad – we Irish are notorious for it.

What the Future Holds?

HR chiefs from federal retail chains noted at Personal Expo 2025 that Indian migrants are already being employed in “warehouse” and “maintenance and cleaning” roles. Roles that were once filled by Central Asian workers. A speaker on a panel discussing recruitment of foreign workers claimed that in their (construction) industry, Indians were reliable, grateful and “motivated”. His statement was challenged by another participant who felt that this was short-term thinking.

“We’re on a constant cycle of trying to depress wages and yet pay more to get in workers who cost more long-term,” she said, before explaining that the Russian education system needs to refocus on producing skilled specialists.

Another speaker, who represented the metallurgy industry, quipped “How skilled does a person need to be to operate a cash register?” She’d previously defended hiring Indian workers on the grounds that they had experience in her industry and many had studied in Russia. Indeed, I know some of them from MISIS, one of the world’s leading producers of metallurgists.

At present, Indian workers are needed to fill gaps in the Russian labour market. These gaps are not alone in the IT, auto, service or construction industries. Yes, the salaries are better than in India, on average. Yes, the conditions are, largely, decent and human. However, speaking with experts in labour dynamics and human resources, once the conflict in Ukraine ends there will be major upheaval in the market. My former economics professor at the Russian State Social University believes there needs to be a balance struck and greater understanding of the needs of migrant workers. His concerns were echoed by the HR Director of delivery company ‘Dosta-evski’ (a play on the Russian literary giant’s name and word for ‘delivery’) Natalia Maximova.

“A problem will grow where a lack of language skill demotes migrants and there is (possible) conflict locally. Indians have their (national) nuances…they’re not a mono-block.”

For now, Russia is a promising destination for Indians looking to make more money than at home, though without proficient and sufficient language skills, avenues are limited. As many Europeans, North Americans, Africans and Antipodeans have found out to their cost – If you don’t get to grips with the local lingo, you’re severely limited at best, surplus and unwanted at worst.

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