Foreigners Banned from Working as Bus and Taxi Drivers in Nizhny Novgorod Region

The Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Andrei Nikitin, has signed a decree prohibiting foreign nationals working under permits from selling alcohol and serving as bus and taxi drivers, according to the press service of the regional government.

It is clarified that the document has been adopted to regulate the labor market for citizens of the Russian Federation and ensure priority employment, stabilize the migration situation, reduce the risks of interethnic conflicts, and prevent crimes in the field of migration legislation, as well as crimes of an extremist and terrorism-related nature in the territory of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, based on recommendations from the regional Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“A ban has been imposed on the employment of foreign citizens engaged in economic activity based on permits,” states the message.

It is noted that foreigners are prohibited from engaging in the retail sale of alcohol (including beer) and tobacco products in specialized stores, providing regular passenger transport by bus, and working as taxi drivers. Relevant employers must dismiss foreign nationals working under permits by June 26. Under labor legislation, they must notify them two months in advance of their dismissal.

The ban does not apply to foreign citizens who have residence or temporary residence permits issued in the region. It also does not extend to foreigners who are citizens of Eurasian Economic Union member states (Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan) who have the right to work in Russia without a permit. Failure to comply with the restrictions set by employers will result in administrative fines.