6,400 people receiving "gray" wages were identified in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

      October 6, 2025, 12:28 Society

      Active work continues in the Nizhny Novgorod region to bring citizens out of the shadow economy. Over the nine months of 2025 more than half of the 6.4 thousand illegally employed residents of the region have officially formalized their employment. These figures were announced at a meeting in the regional government.

      According to Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region Egor Polyakov, employment contracts were signed with 2,015 citizens, 721 people registered as individual entrepreneurs, 527 as self-employed, and another 78 concluded civil-law contracts.

      The interdepartmental commission to combat illegal employment, chaired by Egor Polyakov, carries out this work as part of a federal pilot project. However, as the official noted, efforts to legalize employment are being carried out in the region on an ongoing basis.

      "Our goal is not only to fulfill federal tasks but also to genuinely improve the quality of life for residents of Nizhny Novgorod. Official employment means stable income, social guarantees and protection of workers' rights," Polyakov emphasized.

      The sectors most vulnerable to the spread of illegal employment remain trade, construction and freight transportation. At the same time, some municipalities are showing positive dynamics. Leaders include the Koverninsky, Krasnobakovsky, Voznesensky and Dalnekonstantinovsky districts, as well as the cities of Vyksa and Arzamas.

      Arzamas's experience was especially noted, where close cooperation with the tax service has been established. Joint inspections and regular meetings with business representatives make it possible to effectively address the problem of unofficial employment.

      As Polyakov reminded, working without official registration deprives citizens not only of paid vacations and sick leave, but also of the ability to obtain loans, visas, and, in the future, an insurance pension. For employers, the use of gray schemes threatens serious sanctions — from fines to criminal liability.

      Head of the regional Labor and Employment Department Igor Pantyukhin added that when violations are detected, a signal for inspections may be a salary below the minimum wage (MROT), mass employment of the self-employed, or deviations from average industry wages by more than 35%.

      "We have appealed to the prosecutor's office and law enforcement agencies with a request to become more actively involved in work on the ground. Only through joint efforts can we ensure compliance with labor rights and create fair conditions for doing business," Pantyukhin said.

      Since the beginning of 2025 unscrupulous employers have been entered into Rostrud's open register, which can significantly complicate their further activities. Regional authorities urge entrepreneurs to legalize labor relations and workers to monitor their official status.

      Earlier it was reported that the Nizhny Novgorod Personnel Center has helped employ more than 12 thousand residents of the region since the beginning of 2025.

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