Preventing Forced Labour Exploitation and Promoting Good Labour Practices in the Russian Construction Industry
Joint report: International Labour Organization and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The report should be seen as an initial attempt to analyse labour conditions in Russia’s construction sector and to discuss the feasibility of using the elements of corporate responsibility as tools to address some of the deficiencies, especially related to labour rights and the exploitation of migrant workers.
Throughout the world, the construction industry has the potential to generate much needed employment and to contribute to economic development. Despite this, the industry has to struggle with a poor image, due to the construction of low quality buildings as well as the particular nature of the work, which is often difficult and dangerous. Flexible labour practices have increased due to outsourcing practices that are now the norm in most countries. The Russian construction industry has seen a significant growth after the financial crisis in 1998. Most of the construction companies are now private, employing around 5 million workers. A significant number are migrant workers, among them many without a legal residence or a work permit. They are particularly vulnerable to labour exploitation and coercive labour practices.