Russia tightens salary rules with million-ruble fines for foreign payments
Russia has introduced stricter rules on salary payments while testing new ways to handle international transactions. Employers must now pay workers in rubles, with heavy fines for those who break the law. At the same time, the country is exploring cryptocurrency for cross-border deals through a pilot scheme.
Under current Russian law, salaries must be paid in rubles. Violations already carry fines of up to 50,000 rubles. New proposals would raise this penalty to 1 million rubles and allow authorities to seize assets.
Foreign currencies can be used in limited cases, but cryptocurrency remains off-limits for wages. The Bank of Russia opposes Bitcoin and similar assets as legal payment methods inside the country. Despite this, some global firms use crypto to pay remote staff due to its speed and lower costs. Countries like the US, Switzerland, Portugal, and Japan already permit crypto salaries. Russia, however, maintains a firm stance against it for domestic payments. Meanwhile, the government is testing a programme for international settlements in cryptocurrency, separate from wage rules.
The new fines and asset confiscation plans signal a tougher approach to enforcing ruble-based salaries. While crypto payments for foreign workers remain banned, the pilot programme suggests a controlled shift in cross-border financial policies. Employers must now comply with stricter rules or face significantly higher penalties.
