"Russia Turns Away from North Korean Workers as Monthly Wages Soar to 3 Million Won"

Russian Regional Government Says "Failed to Attract Workers Due to Wage Burden"


Hired 31 Workers from Senegal to Fill the Gap

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Russia’s labor shortage has worsened, leading to a sharp increase in wages for North Korean workers. Russian regional governments and companies, which once utilized North Korean labor as a source of cheap manpower, are now facing difficulties hiring them due to the burden of higher labor costs.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Pixabay

According to the Russian independent media outlet Meduza on July 13 (local time), the city of Orenburg in southern Russia attempted to bring in North Korean workers in the city service sector, including environmental sanitation and public facility management, but negotiations broke down due to disagreements over wage levels.

Albert Yumadilov, Mayor of Orenburg, revealed in an interview with local media that the city attempted to hire North Korean workers last year, but the effort was unsuccessful. The city offered 55,000 rubles per worker per month (approximately 1.06 million won), but the North Korean side did not accept these terms.

Mayor Yumadilov stated, “North Korean workers will not come for such a wage,” explaining, “The current wage demanded is about two to three times the amount we proposed.” Based on this, the wage demanded by the North Korean side is estimated to be 110,000–165,000 rubles per month (about 2.1–3.2 million won).

He gave high praise to the work attitude of North Korean workers. Mayor Yumadilov said, “I saw their work firsthand, and they worked extremely diligently, almost like robots,” adding, “Their productivity and discipline are excellent, but with the current city budget, it is difficult to afford such wages.”

Ultimately, Orenburg abandoned its plan to hire North Korean workers and instead hired 31 workers from Senegal in West Africa. It has been reported that these workers are currently responsible for public service work such as environmental sanitation.

A view of the streets in Pyongyang, North Korea. The photo is not directly related to the specific content of the article. Photo by AFP Yonhap News.

Sharp Rise in Cost of Hiring North Korean Workers Amid Closer Russia-North Korea Ties and Labor Shortages

The cost of employing North Korean workers in Russia has increased significantly, attributed to both the deepening labor shortage in Russia since the war in Ukraine and closer ties between Russia and North Korea.

A related report, released by the Korea Institute for National Unification in 2026, based on testimony from local entrepreneurs and others, indicated that the standard wage for North Korean workers in Russia is typically around USD 1,000 per month (approximately 1.5 million won). Applying the current exchange rate, this equals roughly 70,000–80,000 rubles (about 1.3–1.5 million won).

However, this amount is understood to be closer to the labor cost per worker borne by employers, rather than the net take-home pay actually received by North Korean laborers. After deducting kickbacks to North Korean authorities as well as expenses for lodging, meals, and management fees, the amount that goes directly to the individual workers is estimated to be much lower.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.