Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law ratifying an agreement with India to facilitate the temporary employment of citizens in each other’s territories.

According to Russian publication RBC, Putin signed the law on October 12. The State Duma adopted it on October 1, while the Federation Council approved it on October 2.

India and Russia signed the agreement during Putin’s state visit to New Delhi in December 2025. The two countries also signed an agreement to cooperate in combating irregular migration during the visit.

According to Russia’s Ministry of Labour, more than 71,000 Indian citizens currently work in Russia, mainly in the construction and textile industries. Their number is expected to reach 100,000 by the end of 2026.

Demand for Indian professionals is also increasing in Russia’s engineering and electronics sectors, RBC reported.

The agreement comes as Russia struggles with a severe labour shortage. In May 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the country would require an additional 3.1 million workers by 2030 based on the projections from the economic development and labour ministries.

According to Interfax, Novak also said Russia would need to fill around 11 million positions over the next five years as employees retire.

The agreement aims to facilitate temporary employment for Indian and Russian citizens in each other’s countries. It comes amid growing demand for workers in Russia and expectations of a rise in the number of Indian professionals employed there.