The shortage of labor resources is becoming a serious problem for the country. In 2024, according to official data, Russia will face a deficit of more than two million jobs, and Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin notes that the capital needs an additional 500,000 workers.
On the streets of Moscow, Dolores, along with other Cuban migrants, is trying to cope with the cold and snow. She notes that she often attracts the attention of those around her and prefers not to disclose her full name due to fears of encountering problems with the authorities. Cubans who come to Russia as tourists do not have the right to official employment.
Dolores, 29, shares that she has faced threats from the police several times due to her appearance. Racism in Russian society is evident: a taxi driver jokes that "we already have blacks clearing snow," but at the same time does not know who should do this work if not them.
The situation in the labor market for migrants is deteriorating due to economic problems and the risk of being drafted into the war. The unemployment rate in Russia, which was previously at a record low of 2.2%, can no longer hide the real shortage of labor.
In recent years, the situation with migrants from Central Asia has become increasingly tense, with frequent raids and detentions. In this context, Cubans, who make up a minority among migrants, can rely on their ability to enter Russia visa-free.
In winter, Moscow has a particular need for workers like Dolores. At the end of January, the city faced the heaviest snowfall in the last 200 years, requiring both manual and mechanized snow removal.
Cubans like Dolores work for 3,000 rubles a day, which is a significant amount compared to their incomes at home. Given the constant power outages and internet issues in Cuba, working in Russia becomes an opportunity for them to improve their financial situation.
Gabriel, a 32-year-old Cuban who has been living in Moscow for a year, claims that the temperature in his homeland is currently around 16 degrees, while here he has to cope with temperatures below minus 15. He works for his family, including his son and sick mother.
It is estimated that there are several thousand Cubans currently in Russia, many of whom end up on "illegal" lists without explanation. The Facebook community "Cubans in Moscow" has 14,000 members, but most of them do not speak Russian.
Cubans cannot expect to obtain work permits as migrants from other countries do. Dolores found work through a connection with a Cuban who has legal documents. She and other Cubans try to remain inconspicuous and avoid drawing unnecessary attention.
"Work, work, sleep" — this is how Cubans describe their routine as they try to cope with the hardships of life in Moscow.
