Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan to have common labour market soon

News | 27 October 2010

A common labour market between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan could be formed in the next two years, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Zhukov has said.

"Currently, we have two agreements that have been prepared in the framework of the Customs Union regarding this. I think that this market (common labour market between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan) will be absolutely transparent and effective in two years' time," Zhukov told journalists on Wednesday [27 October], answering a question from Interfax.

After the agreements are signed, Belarusian and Kazakh citizens in Russia will have practically the same employment opportunities as Russians. "After these agreements have been signed in the framework of the Customs Union, they (citizens of Belarus and Kazakhstan) will enjoy practically the same conditions as Russian citizens," Zhukov said.

At the same time, he added that at the moment Belarusian and Kazakh citizens who are cu! rrently in Russia do not enjoy any special employment conditions as compared with citizens of other CIS countries.

Zhukov said that there were serious grounds to believe that work on forming a common labour market between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan would be successful. "All the members of the Customs Union understand that all barriers need to be fully lifted for the movement and effective use of labour where there is a demand for it," Zhukov said.

Source: Interfax news agency