Putin’s bodyguards are working food delivery and taxi jobs as wages stagnate

Putin’s bodyguards are working food delivery and taxi jobs as wages stagnate

Putin with a bodyguard in the Red Square in 2015 in less troubled times. / Sergey Klimkin

By bne IntelliNews December 3, 2024

Employees of the Federal Guard Service (FSO) in Russia have turned to side jobs, such as taxi driving and courier work, due to stagnant wages and infrequent bonuses.

That’s according to Baza, a Russian online outlet believed to have links to the country’s security services.

The FSO is tasked with protecting senior state officials, including the President of Russia, and maintaining security at critical sites, such as the Kremlin and the Novo-Ogaryovo estate. Despite the sensitive nature of their roles, FSO employees earn an average monthly salary of RUB80,000-RUB110,000 ($752–1,034), a figure that has remained static for years due to a lack of wage indexation. Rising inflation and higher living costs have strained household budgets, forcing many staff to seek additional income in sectors such as e-commerce, security and delivery services.

Dissatisfaction has been fuelled further by cuts to bonuses, including the anticipated New Year payment, which was expected to amount to half a month’s salary but is now likely to be reduced. This, combined with stagnant wages, has left many feeling undervalued. Nevertheless, many FSO employees remain in their positions to retain pension benefits.

This trend highlights broader issues of wage stagnation in Russia, with many courier salaries now reportedly exceeding some entry-level IT roles.

#russia #putin #bodyguards #macro #wagestagnation

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