More than a million people were unemployed after foreign companies suspended the supply of goods to Russia. True, it would be more correct to say: not “was unemployed”, but “idle”, because in the work book nothing has changed yet, and the salary regularly comes to the card.
For about five months, employees of large foreign companies, who do not lose hope of continuing to work in the Russian market, receive a minimum wage (13,890 rubles per month in Moscow) or 2/3 of their salary, depending on the length of service. However, no one hopes that this will continue for long.
In mid-July, the telegraph channel of Ksenia Sobchak “The Bloody Lady” wrote that Zara employees were forced to work at Wildberries warehouses in the Moscow region. They say part of the government is forced to pack and unload goods, but they pay nothing. But, according to the employees themselves, the work on the basis of the marketplace in the city of Podolsk took about two weeks, and it was too late, and each shift was paid in addition to the salary. For example, in one working day an employee received about 3 thousand rubles.
The situation is quite different for foreign companies that continue to operate in Russia. So, the day before at the Italian Benetton Group (United Colors of Benetton, Sisley), the goods turned out exactly as ordered. And now it’s one of the few fashion brands on the market that can offer business. Moreover, it was reflected in the income. “If we had a 100,000 check once or twice a day, then when news began to spread that stores would close, there was more,” one store manager said.
The Fashion Vibes talked with employees of large foreign retailers in Russia about how working conditions have changed and how much wages have fallen. All names have been changed at the request of the heroes.
Christina, Zara Sales Consultant
“We learned from the media that the company has suspended its operations in Russia. Only then did we meet for a general meeting and explained all the details. We didn’t have any cuts, but I know they were at other stores. Everyone is paid differently. As a rule, it depends on experience and position. For example, employees working in the company for less than a year are paid around 14 thousand twice a month, seven times a month. This corresponds to the size of the minimum wage. Managers are paid 2/3 of the salary – from 40 thousand and above. We are strictly prohibited from disclosing information from in-house meetings and press conferences. Also, in official conversations with management, we are required to show the room to prove that no one is listening to our conversation. To be honest, we still haven’t been told any details. No one knows when or when we will open,” he said.
Evgeniy, cashier at Bershka
“The news that everyone was forced to work in the Wildberries warehouses is of course exaggerated. Firstly, now these works have been completed for a long time, and secondly, all this has been requested. In addition, the company organized transfers, meals, and also paid for this working day from above. After the company’s business was suspended, we went into idle mode. That’s why we didn’t come to the stores very often. At first, we were called upon to pack products from warehouses in boxes, and when Bershka products appeared on the marketplaces, we understood why we did it. The warehouses are empty and some branches are already refusing to rent. We will probably close soon. I’m sure we’ll be leaving quietly and not like H&M because we don’t even have any items left for sale.”
Elizaveta, H&M Sales Consultant
“Until recently, all work was done on foot. Now we are preparing for sale and put on all the goods in the hall. So far, there is no clear answer to the question of how we will work. But the news that everything will be sold for half price is a duck. There was no talk about it. As practice shows, we will likely learn that even though we are part of a large team, we will all be fired on a par with everyone else. Yet the management cares about our mental health and tries in every way to cheer us up. For example, at first we had training with a psychologist.
Payments were minimal after the stores closed. This is not the money we receive while working full time. Yes, it’s a nice bonus, but it’s definitely not the way to live.
Olga, manager of United Colors of Benetton
“We had concerns when Inditex closed that it was our turn, but we’re still working. The only comment from the head office in Italy was that they would be looking at the community. If there are negative outflows from the firm across the country, we will be closed. Overall, very little revenue for the Benetton parent company in Russia. The network has not only clothing stores, but also other projects: highways, roadside cafes, and this brings them much more profit and in fact, Benetton could have been shut down, they wouldn’t have lost much. But the management is still defending us, because the founder of the company is Russian He wants to keep his job.
We have no less goods, deliveries arrive in the same quantity. Our staff did not decrease, on the contrary, the influx of former employees of Inditex and other closed brands began. There were more people, more jobs, but the salary remained the same.
By the way, our clothes are also available in the marketplaces, but they were there even before the other stores closed. We also have our own website where you can order online, there is a platform at Wildberries. Perhaps the goods will also appear on Ozone, but not connected with the closure.
Sophia, manager “Vkusno – and point” (former McDonald’s)
“When the restaurant closed, the company continued to pay the same amount of salary (about 200 rubles per hour. note. ed.).). After all McDonald’s restaurants were closed, the team spent nearly a week doing nightly cleaning after a workday. At the end of the “wash”, all the workers and trainers went to a full-fledged interruption. True, over time, cases of vandalism became more frequent, so the managers took turns in the restaurants.
Few people know, but during the outage we were offered a job with our partners. Some of my colleagues took advantage of this opportunity and worked part time at McDonald’s. We cooperated with Tinkoff, Rostelecom companies and DA shop.
After the business was sold, nothing changed except the name. Likewise, strict monitoring of products and personnel is carried out. The social package and salary have not changed.”
No one knows what awaits Russian employees in foreign companies from now on. However, if Inditex leaves the Russian market, around 10,000 people will lose their jobs. After Pepsico left, 19,000 employees were unemployed. And when IKEA and H&M close, another 25,000 Russians will be added to the unemployed count. And this is only a small part of enterprises that have ceased their activities in Russia.
Providing more than 50,000 new jobs a day is almost an impossible task. And if you were involved in scandals and disputes over the emergence of the Vkusno-i Tochka restaurant chain at the former premises of McDonald’s, we recall that it was this company that was able to save 62,000 jobs.
Some are hotly discussing the high level of unemployment that the state may face at the end of the year, while others are doing everything possible to ensure the emergence of new companies on the Russian market that can provide jobs to the population.
Source: People Talk
