"Trade unions sometimes fail to take responsibility for resolving specific work problems and disputes, remain passive, and play a purely formal role in protecting the interests of workers and staff teams," Vladimir Putin said at a congress of the Federation of Russia's Independent Trade Unions.
The president also criticized trade unions for their failure to observe environmental legislation, which often leads to fatal accidents.
He also said unions should propose effective formulas for labor evaluation, especially in the budget sphere, where wage rises should be accompanied by improved quality of services.
The president urged unions to regulate labor migration and cooperate with federal and regional authorities, and said they should put forward realistic economic demands.
"You should take into account the socio-economic situation in the country and the priorities for its development," he said.
