"The inflow of migrants may somewhat slow down the process of demographic ageing," the ministerial report reads.
Without substituting migration, with account for even a possible increase in the birth rate, the population of Russia will be reduced by at least 20 million by 2005, to about 100 million by 2050, the ministry says.
As a result of demographic ageing, the share of people older than 60 years of age will increase from 18 percent in 2000 to 26 percent in 2025, the report says. "The change in the generations ratio in favor of the older people will heavily tell on the labor market, social security and health protection, economic development in general," the ministry states.
In these conditions, Russia is in need of a correct migration policy. The Economic Development and Trade Ministry is for simplifying the procedure of attraction and use of foreign workforce, rejecting the system of quotas in issuing invitations to foreigners coming to the Russian Federation to do work.
State and regional target programs for permanent migration and settlement have to be prepared, as well as migration legislation, fixing rules of settlement and integration of migrants into Russian society. Meantime, the ministry notes the necessity of drawing up efficient steps to end illegal migration.
On an average term, Russia's main migration resource is the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, notes the Economic Development and Trade Ministry.
