Various estimates put the number of foreign workers in Russia at between 10 million and 15 million people, but only 500,000 of them are working legally. This is the root cause of many problems, including poor working conditions and low pay for immigrants working illegally, violations of their rights, and criminalisation of unlawful employment, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Russkaya Mysl newspaper. "A number of legislative initiatives have already been passed which, on the one hand, make it easier for foreign workers to register, and on the other hand, toughen the penalties for breaking the immigration rules and unlawfully using foreign labor. We also intend to encourage immigration to the parts of the country and the economic sectors that are important for Russia's development and that face labor shortages," he said.