Indian workers take overseas jobs to support families at home. Everything about the job — the cold, the distance, the language — is tolerable if wages arrive on time and can be sent home. When payment is late, unclear or hard to remit, workers become anxious and unsettled. Getting pay right is therefore not only a legal duty but the foundation of retention.
This guide covers payroll practice for Indian staff. It does not give legal, tax or sanctions advice — discuss those with your accountant and bank.
Pay in Roubles, Through Payroll
Russian labour law requires wages to be paid in roubles, at least twice a month, and fully documented. That applies to foreign workers exactly as to Russians. Cash payments outside payroll expose the employer to tax and labour penalties and undermine the worker's legal position.
The employment contract must state the salary that matches what was offered in India. Workers compare their payslip with their offer letter, and any gap, even one caused by deductions they were not told about, creates distrust.
Explain Gross and Net Clearly
Visa-route workers on ordinary work permits usually have tax withheld at the non-resident rate during their first months, until residency is reached, which can mean a much lower net salary in the first months than workers expect. If the offer in India quoted a gross figure, workers may be shocked by their first payslip.
Our practice is to agree with the employer before recruitment what the net monthly pay will be in the first months and after tax residency, and to show both in the offer letter. See our income tax guide for detail.
Deductions for accommodation or meals, if any, must be lawful, agreed in writing and explained in advance.
Payslips Workers Can Read
Russian payslips are in Russian. A simple English or Hindi summary — basic pay, overtime, deductions, net — attached to each payslip prevents misunderstandings. Some employers set up a monthly meeting where a coordinator walks the crew through the payslip.
Opening Bank Accounts
Paying into a Russian bank account is the standard approach. Opening one for a foreign worker usually requires a passport, visa, migration registration and sometimes a tax number. Requirements vary between banks and have become stricter. Practical tips:
- Arrange accounts in bulk with one bank that has experience with foreign staff
- Have a coordinator accompany workers to the branch
- Make sure registration is completed first, since banks often ask for it
- Keep workers' legal status valid — foreign nationals on the register of controlled persons face banking restrictions
Sending Money to India
This is the most sensitive area, and practices change. Since 2022, payments between Russia and many foreign banks have been restricted, and international card schemes do not work in the normal way. Russian and Indian authorities have developed bilateral trade settlement arrangements, but these are designed for trade, not personal remittances.
For individual workers, what matters is whether there is a practical, legal and affordable channel to send money to an Indian bank account. Options have included money transfer services that operate between the two countries and bank transfers through particular routes, but availability, limits and costs shift regularly.
What employers should do:
- Ask your bank which channels are currently available for workers' remittances to India
- Tell candidates honestly, before departure, how they will be able to send money
- Never encourage informal or unregulated remittance channels
- Review the situation periodically, as it changes
We will not tell a candidate that remittances are simple if they are not. That conversation must happen before departure, not after.
Pay on Time, Every Time
Late payment is the fastest way to lose a crew. Even a week's delay spreads quickly through a hostel and creates rumours. If a delay is unavoidable, explain it in advance, in writing, in the workers' language.
Overtime and Night Work
Overtime and night work must be paid according to Russian labour law and recorded properly. Indian workers often want overtime to raise earnings. Offering it fairly and recording it accurately builds trust.
Related Reading
See the cost of hiring Indian workers in Russia for the employer's full budget, and retention in the first year for the wider picture. To discuss a requirement, visit our Russia hiring page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Russian employers pay Indian workers in cash?
Wages should go through official payroll in roubles and be documented. Off-book cash payments create tax and labour exposure for the employer.
Can Indian workers send money home from Russia?
Channels exist, but availability, limits and costs change. Employers should check current options with their bank and brief candidates honestly before departure.
