DUSHANBE, November 23, 2011, Asia-Plus – Russia’s news agency, RIA Novosti, reports Konstantin Romodanovsky, the head of Russia’s Federal Migration Service (FMS), says the Russian language test for migrant workers will cost some 2,500 Russian rubles.

On Tuesday November 22, the State Duma (Russia’s lower chamber of parliament) endorsed the bill on the compulsory knowledge of the Russian language for migrant workers in first reading

A group of deputies from the United Russia party have submitted the bill requiring language tests for migrant workers for consideration to the State Duma.  The bill calls for language tests for foreigners wanting to receive work permits for Russia.  The bill’s authors said that working migrants’ lack of Russian led to tensions in society and created a potential threat to interethnic harmony.

The bill applies not apply to all foreigners seeking work permits, however.  Only those applying to work in retail, housing and public utilities and the services industries would be required to provide documentation confirming their Russian language skills.  The bill calls for foreign workers in these fields to have “at least an elementary” level of Russian.  Acceptable documentation would be a high school certificate issued in the USSR prior to September, 1991 or similar education documentation issued in Russia after 1991.

Those without a formal Russian education would be required to sit an exam at special testing centers located in higher education institutes.  The testing centers may also be established in those countries which provide large numbers of migrant workers.

  “Sitting a Russian-language exam will cost some 2,500 Russian rubles or may be this cost will be lower,” the FMS head Konstantin Romodanovsky told the TV channel “Dozhd” in an interview.

Meanwhile, The Moscow News reported on November 7 that Ms. Gavhar Jourayeva, the chairperson of the Migration and Law Center, does not agree that the new legislation is necessary.  “Compulsory Russian-language knowledge is necessary when you apply for Russian citizenship,” Kommersant quoted Jourayeva as saying.  “As for migrants involved with physical heavy labor, they don’t have time to go to language courses and if the law is accepted it will create a new basis for corruption.  One more certificate that you can buy will be added to the list.”