The Ministry of Labor intends to again restrict the work of migrants in pharmacies

The draft document “On establishing for 2026 the permissible share of foreign workers employed by business entities carrying out certain types of economic activity on the territory of the Russian Federation” specifies that foreign workers will not be able to carry out activities in pharmacies, non-stationary retail facilities and markets.

The Ministry of Labor proposes to establish separate measures in 29 subjects of Russia for different types of economic activity. Thus, according to the draft resolution, in Krasnodar Krai and Chelyabinsk Oblast, the employment of foreigners in pharmacies is permitted, but such workers should not exceed 15% of the total number. Currently, such an opportunity exists only in Krasnodar Krai. In the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, the share of such workers in pharmacies is proposed to be increased to 50%.

According to the regulator, the draft resolution was prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Law “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation”, taking into account proposals from the regions, worked out with the social partners of the subjects, as well as industry departments.

The permissible share of migrants is set annually to regulate the recruitment of foreign labor, taking into account regional characteristics of the labor market and priority employment of Russian citizens. The decree banning the hiring of foreigners to work in pharmacies was first approved in December 2013. The document was signed by the then Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev. The measure was extended annually.