Russia's industrial struggle: Teens tapped for hazardous work
A million men have been involved in the war in Ukraine, with at least 100,000 killed and 500,000 left disabled. Despite these staggering numbers, thousands of Russians continue to enlist in the military daily, enticed by the promise of millions of rubles in social benefits. Meanwhile, Russian industry is grappling with an unprecedented shortage of workforce.
As a result of these industrial challenges, a request has been made to allow teenagers to work in heavy and hazardous conditions. Boys as young as 16 could soon be employed in mines, chemical raw material processing, iron metallurgy facilities, non-ferrous metal smelting, power plants, heat plants, and refineries. The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade has sought to lift the 24-year-old ban on those under 18 working in such conditions.
The TASS agency reports the proposed regulatory changes, and regional Russian portals have highlighted the issue, noting that the greatest staff shortages are occurring in the provinces. Due to the war with Ukraine, the Russian economy has lost as many as 1.7 million workers, constituting a substantial percentage of the nation's workforce, according to Novaya Gazeta. Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, without directly mentioning the war, has acknowledged the industry's "staffing crisis" and plans to create jobs for vocational school students.
- This is a significant economic indicator that the Russian industry is feeling the impact of the war and may struggle to maintain previous levels of military production. The exact Russian casualties in Ukraine remain uncertain, and those soldiers who survived might not reintegrate into the labor market due to psychological trauma, comments Dr. Adam Karpiński, an economist from WSB Merito University in Wrocław, Poland.
The expert highlights that Russia is losing its human resources not only through war casualties but also from emigration and individuals fleeing mobilization. Since February 2022, about 700,000 men have left the country, reports The Moscow Times. Over 100,000 Russians have relocated to Armenia, 80,000 to Kazakhstan, and 74,000 to Georgia.
- The decision to employ 16-year-olds appears radical. It suggests that the Kremlin might be preparing for another wave of male mobilization, already considering their replacements. This situation is reminiscent of Stalin's era when the country operated like a labor camp. The question remains whether Russia will now become a gulag, adds Dr. Karpiński.
A new phenomenon shakes Russia: lack of men for work
The Russian Ministry of Labor predicts a shortage of 2.4 million workers by 2030, reports The Moscow Times. This problem is most acute in regions with high war casualty rates. The Kremlin seems to be protecting large cities in the European part of Russia, describing this as a "restructuring of the social structure".
- The Russian Federation's authorities carried out mobilizations in Russia and the occupied territories without considering potential economic disruptions. Drafts also affected workers in strategic sectors, leading to negative repercussions, previously noted Dr. Michał Marek from the Center for Research on Contemporary Security Environment and author of "Operation Ukraine" for Wirtualna Polska.
Buses stop running in Russia: Drivers fell in war
In summer 2024, Sergey Kuznetsov, head of the Novokuznetsk administration (with a population of 500,000 in Siberia), suggested forming a "women's battalion" to alleviate municipal worker shortages. Women were to drive buses with a salary of 100,000 rubles per month. As a consequence, a quarter of the city's buses have been idled due to a lack of drivers.
The regional portal SibRealli attributed the issue to mobilization. The drivers "contracted with the Northern Military District." The battalion was not formed. Only 30 women, barely a platoon, attended a meeting with the mayor.
Similar challenges have been reported in Tomsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Novosibirsk. In January 2024, an obituary highlighted Aleksey Zarubin from Ulan-Ude - known as "Russia's best bus driver." He lost his life in Ukraine.
Over a year ago, staff shortages were also noted in the heating plants and gasworks of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic. Outside the heating season, young workers were mobilized for the front. In the battle of Avdiivka, 120 out of 400 heating plant workers and 300 out of 900 gas workers did not return.
The Russian authorities have kept the number of dead and injured classified. However, opposition media have estimated war casualties based on an increase in the number of disabled individuals and local budget allocations for contract soldiers. The Verstka service suggests that up to 500,000 men have been disabled in the conflict, with over 100,000 killed.
According to sociologists, in recent decades, Russians have viewed military service as a last resort for men lacking qualifications and better job prospects. With no significant wars to fight, most remained stationed within military bases. However, the war in Ukraine has altered the trajectory for those willing to fight, elevating their social status. Vladimir Putin's political stronghold offered veterans more than 300 positions on electoral lists for regional council elections in 2024. The president himself declared that participants in the "special operation" are to form a new elite governing body.
