“Like in films from Gulag times”
German economy criticizes Russia’s compulsory tests
02/05/2022 11:38 am
Foreigners wishing to work in Russia must be tested for Covid, HIV, syphilis and tuberculosis every three months. The German-Russian chamber abroad protests. It is said that the discrimination will further intensify the massive trend towards the exodus of companies.
The German economy in Russia warns of a “massive exodus” of companies in view of the mandatory medical tests for managers and other foreigners. There is already a trend towards withdrawal, according to information from the German-Russian Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK).
The number of German companies in Russia fell by eight percent in 2021 compared to the previous year. In addition to the introduction of compulsory medical examinations for foreigners, the new sanctions threatened by the West against Russia in the Ukraine crisis and the fear of a war in Europe were given as reasons.
Currently, 3,651 companies with German capital are still active in the largest country in the world in terms of area. In the past ten years or so, 42 percent of the companies have withdrawn – in 2011 there were still 6,300 companies with German capital.
“The fear of war surrounding the Ukraine crisis, the threat of new sanctions and discriminatory compulsory tests for top managers and engineers represent a massive risk and annoyance,” said Matthias Schepp, CEO of the AHK and delegate of German industry in Russia.
Tests for HIV, Syphilis, Tuberculosis and Covid
Under a new law signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, long-stay foreigners must undergo extensive medical screenings to work in the country. Foreigners in Russia should therefore be regularly tested for drug use and infectious diseases such as HIV, syphilis, tuberculosis and Covid. In addition to blood and urine samples, children from the age of six and spouses would also have to undergo X-ray tests with high levels of radiation every three months.
According to the AHK, outrage among German managers is growing. In letters to the AHK, German managers reported “conditions like in films from the Gulag days” with hours of waiting and a lack of compliance with corona regulations among hundreds of guest workers in a test center not far from Moscow. According to the AHK, ten foreign business associations have written a letter to the Russian government demanding that the “discriminatory regulation” be overturned or mitigated.
Other foreign trade associations also criticize the new law as damaging to investments. The US embassy in Moscow called the law “xenophobic”.