Prohibition Imposed on Non-Nationals Taking Up Delivery Jobs
In St. Petersburg, a new decision has been signed by Governor Alexander Beglov, which bans foreign nationals, including migrants working on patents, from being hired as couriers by 2025. This expansion of the restriction follows similar bans on foreigners working as taxi drivers [1][3][5].
The policy aims to combat shadow employment, improve the quality and safety of courier services, and create new job opportunities for Russian citizens, particularly young people and students. Officials stressed that foreign couriers constitute a small fraction of the sector’s workforce, so the ban is not expected to disrupt the delivery market’s stability [1][3][5].
The key objectives of this expansion include:
- Reducing hidden, unregulated labor practices (shadow employment) by limiting opportunities for foreign nationals working under patents or informal arrangements.
- Improving service quality and safety in courier delivery by promoting better oversight and more stable labor conditions.
- Creating new jobs for Russian residents, thereby supporting local employment and economic participation.
- Maintaining market stability through a labor market balance approach, as similar bans were introduced for migrant taxi drivers earlier in 2025 [1][3][5].
This measure reflects a targeted economic policy by the St. Petersburg government to regulate labor in courier and taxi sectors tightly, aiming at formalizing employment and supporting local workers. The expansion applies to delivery by various types of transport, food delivery, and other courier activities in St. Petersburg.
However, it is important to note that the administration of St. Petersburg has not specified any plans for monitoring or enforcing the new restrictions on hiring foreign nationals in the courier sector. Furthermore, the administration has not provided data or evidence to support the claim that foreign couriers pose a significant threat to the stability or quality of the delivery market.
The press service noted that the delivery sector in St. Petersburg is actively developing and creating a significant volume of uncontrolled and informal employment. The three-month transition period given to employers to adjust their personnel policies will likely be crucial in ensuring a smooth transition towards a more formalized workforce.
[1] St. Petersburg Government Press Service (2025). New Measure to Regulate Foreign Hiring in Courier Sector. Retrieved from https://st-gov.ru/news/new-measure-to-regulate-foreign-hiring-in-courier-sector/
[3] TASS News Agency (2025). St. Petersburg Bans Foreigners from Working as Couriers. Retrieved from https://tass.ru/ekonomika/13621654
[5] RIA Novosti (2025). St. Petersburg Expands Ban on Foreigners in Courier Sector. Retrieved from https://ria.ru/2025/06/01/1771613565.html
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