Russia-India labour deal sparks concerns over workers’ rights, safety

It’s a win-win on paper but critics note issues like lack of safeguards, exploitation

- Nirmala Ganapathy India Bureau Chief and Kalicharan Veera Singam Assistant Foreign Editor

Mr Sunil Mohit, a welder from Uttar Pradesh, outside a recruitment agency in New Delhi. He wants to find work in Europe. ST PHOTO: NIRMALA GANAPATHY

(NIRMALA GANAPATHY)

Undeterred by reports of scores of Indians in Russia being forcibly drafted into the Ukraine war — some of whom have died — Mr Rakesh Shah still wants to travel to Russia to work in construction, underlining the risks Indian workers are willing to take for employment.

Rubbing his hands against the winter chill as he stood outside a government-accredited recruitment firm in New Delhi, Mr Shah said his determination to provide a better life for his family outweighs his concerns over the risks from the war in the region.

He feels a little reassured by a yet-to-be operationalised mobility agreement signed between India and Russia in December 2025 that should enable the Indian authorities to track who is going to Russia.

“For work and supporting my family, | am ready to go to Russia,” said Mr Shah, 37, who left his job in Dubai a few months ago and is willing to take the chance to earn more in Russia.

During Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closely watched visit to India in December 2025, the two countries agreed to ease the movement of Indian workers to Russia. They also pledged to increase bilateral trade.

The agreements with Russia “will open up new avenues for collaboration between the two countries”, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Randhir Jaiswal, in response to a question from The Straits Times at a Jan 9 briefing.

“We look forward to putting this into action,” he said. “There is a requirement on both sides to strengthen our economic partnership, our technology partnership.”

On paper, it is a win-win for labour-starved Russia and labour-surplus India. In reality, however, as logistical, bureaucratic and human elements come into play, this partnership might be far from straightforward.