Workers and employees of concession companies in Altai: working conditions and characteristics of activity at the turn of the 19<sup>th</sup> and 20<sup>th</sup> centuries

The efficiency and productivity of an enterprise directly depend not only on the actions of management, but also on the conditions under which the employees work. This article examines the socio-economic and legal status of employees in concession companies in the Altai mining industry during the period of rapid development of capitalism in Russia. Within the scope of this article, we attempt to analyse imperial legislation, the number of employees, types of positions, and their household and financial conditions using examples from the implementation of concession policies in the region. Our research methodology is based on the «microhistory» approach. The text highlights the evolution of regional labor laws, changes that were directly related to the Altai gold mining industry. Information is provided on the number of employees and types of work in mining enterprises. The comparative results of wages at individual concessions in the region and on a national scale are summarized. The main social and domestic challenges faced by employees at concession companies in Altai, such as a lack of access to quality healthcare and unsanitary living conditions, are discussed. Additionally, efforts by concession management to address these issues are presented.