Russia and India are moving to a new level of cooperation by launching a large-scale agreement on labor mobility. The document, signed during the Russian-Indian summit in New Delhi, opens up the possibility of freely attracting specialists from India to work in Russian companies. This step has become one of the most significant labor agreements in recent years and reflects the desire of both countries to strengthen economic ties amid the growth of trade and economic partnership.
According to First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Moscow is ready to accept an almost unlimited number of workers from India, given the high staff shortage in a number of industries. The manufacturing industry alone now needs at least 800,000 additional workers. Trade, construction, and services are also experiencing a special shortage of personnel — collectively, these areas may require up to 1.5 million workers in excess of the current employment level.
The agreement is designed to eliminate barriers to the employment of Indian specialists, simplify procedures, provide guarantees and transparent working conditions. Experts note that such cooperation opens up access for Russia to one of the largest markets for skilled labor in the world. India has a significant human resource, ranging from technical specialists and engineers to service sector workers known for their high level of training.
The demand for labor resources in Russia remains high due to large-scale infrastructure projects, the construction of new industrial facilities and the growth of domestic consumption. For India, the agreement creates additional opportunities for labor migration and strengthens its position in foreign markets.
Observers emphasize that the signing of the agreement also reflects the political rapprochement between the two countries and the desire to create a more balanced model of cooperation in which the exchange of labor will become one of the key elements. Combined with the growing supply of goods and services and the development of mutual investment projects, labor mobility can become a new driver of trade growth, which both countries plan to increase to $100 billion by 2030.
It is expected that the implementation of the agreement will begin gradually, but already now Russian industries are forming requests for the involvement of specialists in an accelerated mode. The most sought-after areas are construction, industry, electronics manufacturing, logistics, retail, and social infrastructure facilities.
