"Otkhodniks" as a Vanguard of the Russian Precariat

"Otkhodniks" are typical migrant workers in contemporary Russia. It is a type of labor migration that is distinguished by its temporary and returnable nature. Nowadays, otkhodniks come mostly from small towns or rural areas in major cities--regional centers and capitals. The number of Russian otkhodniks is no less than 15-20 million. They are not registered at places of their temporary residence and usually work informally. They pay no taxes. Otkhodniks do not participate in local economy. Therefore, for the economy, they are nonexistent. As a result, otkhodniks drop out of social government programs and are not covered by the mandatory government service package provided to all citizens. Otkhodniks are not recorded by government statistics. Neither are they registered in municipal reports. They also escape the attention of municipal authorities. However, otkhodniks play the most active and entrepreneurial part of local societies. However, neither the municipal nor the government authorities interact with them or consider them as targets for political actions. This category of really active population seems not to exist within the competence of the authorities. They belong to precariat, a new working class. However, they also have several important traits, which distinguish them from "classical" precariat.