RSPP Polls More Than 900 Russian Companies
IIn April 2020, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) conducted a country-wide survey among its members based on the methodology of the International Labour Organization to find out how much the Covid-19 pandemic affected company operations.
Respondents were asked to estimate the current status of economic operations in Russia, the main challenges faced by companies and their current financial status.
The survey involving 933 companies from all federal districts was conducted through QualtricsXM online platform. The survey announcement was sent out to the RSPP regional offices and sectoral organizations associated with the RSPP.
According to a follow-up report, a vast majority of companies – 87.4 percent – continue operations in the current environment. At 29.3 percent of companies, all workers remain at their workplaces, with 14 percent of companies fully implementing the home (remote) working arrangement. Among operating companies, 44.2 percent said they were “partially” in operation.
Small businesses were the worst affected, with one quarter suspending operations and one fifth fully switching to remote working. At the same time, only 8.6 percent of large companies ticked the answer “all staff working remotely”.
More than 55 percent of the polled education and financial companies switched to remote working.
Almost three fourths of medium-sized companies identified default on contractual obligations as the main challenge.
Entrepreneurs were also asked about the forthcoming recovery. According to estimates, a little more than one fourth of companies (26.2 percent) will need from 31 to 90 days to fully restore operations. One fifth of those polled expect a shorter recovery period between one week and one month.
It is worth noting that the survey was part of the toolkit that ILO Bureau for Employers’ Activities (ACT/EMP) provided to their constituents as the first set of emergency measures.