?
Прописные истины трудовой сферы
Мир России: Социология, этнология. 2015. Т. 24. № 1. С. 145–149.
Smirnov S.
The opinions of foreign experts concerning their understanding of the labor relations in modern Russia agree to a great extent with the conclusions made by the researchers in this country. One of the latest examples – the paper presented by M. Désert The use of law in labor relationship. The author is not an insider of Russian labor market but after interviewing in 2012 – 2014 various kinds of stakeholders M. Désert arrived at a conclusion that the Labor code «does not reflect the reality of work arrangements».
Russian statistics confirms this result. In October 2014 the Russian authorities published data that 22,5 mln employees don’t pay mandatory insurance fees in the Pension fund of Russian Federation. But those persons according to the results of the Federal Statistic Service «Employment Survey» do really work and have income from their economic activities. In most cases those economic activities are legally permitted (conveyance of passengers, retail trade, renovation etc). The share of such persons in the total number of employed in the economy makes about one-third.
The Russian Government tries to improve the situation using relatively liberal methods to involve those using informal practices in their labor relations in the white sector of the economy. The often used argument is the following: you don’t pay taxes, so state authorities are not responsible for your wellbeing in your old age. In 2014 the average monthly payed pension in Russia is about 11 thousand roubles while social pension payed to man and women since their 65 and 60 respectively makes about 40% of the labor pension. I think it’s not enough to reject the informal practices.
To finish with the evaluation of the informal practices one can say that the existing Labor code doesn’t record the specifics of market economy. In order to maximize incomes many employees agree to work 10 or more hours a day, on holidays and so on.
The best way to solve the problem of the informal practices in labor sphere a simple amendment to this document can be suggested. The informal practices convert to formal if we afford employer and employee to use the convenient for both of them terms of occupation. But the usage of such terms must not have negative consequences for the budget of this country.