Russia forces students to work in military factories: those who disagree are threatened

Voenmeh students of the St. Petersburg Baltic State Technical University are sent to do internships at military companies UAB “Specialusis technologinis centras”, UAB “Valdymo doreživs ryišť institutas” and UAB “Tyrimų ir gamybo įmonė Radar mms”, where they are forced to sign employment contracts and documents for familiarization with state secrets. The university students themselves told the independent Russian portal “Groza” about it.

This is not the first time

Independent Russian portal “The Moscow Times” reports that young people are forced to submit their personal data, including information about trips abroad and information about close relatives, when filling out documents for access to state secrets. The students are not told what they will be doing at the practicum, but they assume the job will be assembling drones and other military equipment. For this they are promised 60 thousand. rubles (609 euros) salary. Students complain that if they refuse, they are threatened with expulsion “for practice debt”.

This is not the first case in Russia that defense industry companies are trying to force young people to work in military industries. In April, Tatarstan authorities announced a new program to promote youth employment, according to which the region plans to attract teenagers from the age of 14 to work in companies of the defense industrial complex: minors will be easier to get a job and will be able to work in factories in their spare time.

Last year, the State Council of the Republic prepared a draft of amendments to the Labor Code, which would allow teenagers to be employed in harmful and dangerous production companies from the age of 16. In February, the general director of the Alabuga SEZ, Timur Shagivaleyev, proposed to transfer the students of day departments to evening training, so that they would have time to work in companies during the day.

Can cancel from vacation

in 2022 In August, the Russian government allowed workers in the defense industry and all companies that provide state defense orders to work overtime without their consent. According to the decree, additional work can last up to 4 hours per day. At the same time, the management of companies received the right to change the work schedule of employees at their own discretion, as well as to cancel employees from vacation.

At that time, the State Duma said that this resolution was adopted because of the war in Ukraine. Chairman of the Industry Committee, Vladimir Gutenev, said that if Russia’s defense industry cannot meet all the state’s needs, the authorities should be able to “attract a limited number of people for part-time work based on the adopted rules.”