Labor of foreigners in the Russian Empire at the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th century

The problem of attracting qualified labor to Russia has still not been resolved, despite the efforts of the legislator and the scientific community. At the same time, our country has significant historical experience in using the labor of foreign craftsmen. An analysis of the labor legal status of foreigners in the Russian Empire at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries makes it possible to identify how the state allowed this category of people to work and how well the rights of the workers themselves were protected. It is advisable to use positive historical experience to improve current legislation in this area. Attention to the legal framework of the late 19th – early 20th centuries is due to the fact that in connection with the growth of industrial production in the period under review, there was also a quantitative and qualitative increase in legislation regulating the labor of hired workers. Based on the results of the study, it was established that the concept of “foreigner” was enshrined in legislation; they were protected by Russian laws and enjoyed the same labor rights as Russian citizens. In some cases, the legislation of the Russian Empire provided foreigners with more opportunities than modern ones, for example, in the field of public service. The procedure for admitting foreigners to work was of a permissive nature. It is substantiated that foreign citizenship should be recognized as one of the grounds for differentiation of the legal regulation of labor of that time.