Experts interviewed by Izvestia uncovered risks for nannies and other domestic staff in Russian families. These people, referred to as domestic workers, face abuse and crime at the hands of their employers.

“The difficulty is in the specifics of the work. But the financial interests are diametrically opposite: the employer wants to pay the nanny as little as possible. As the saying goes, for a penny a canary so that she sings and does not eat, ”said Irina Gurenkova, owner of the Assistant recruiting agency.

According to her, abuses “happen” in the opposite direction, but if the nanny breaks the contract, usually unconsciously, then the owner, for example, does not pay on purpose and fines. However, in most cases, attempts are made to find a compromise.

Natalya Linkova, founder of the Grandmother for an Hour service, added that the risks for employees in this area remain high, despite the fact that its legalization began in 2017. She noted that nannies and caregivers face sexual harassment and assault. Also, a constant problem remains non-payment of the money promised when hiring. The situation was especially aggravated during the coronavirus pandemic.

The expert explained that the party to ensure safety is the legal formulation of the relationship between staff and family. Another guarantee is the installed surveillance cameras.

Professionals create that the widest number of exposed foreign nationals. Agencies and nannies themselves use employer blacklists.

Earlier, the Kirovsky District Court of Volgograd sentenced a 35-year-old local resident to kyat years in prison, who beat her 69-year-old nanny to death of her 4-year-old son. The woman was found guilty under Article 111 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. She fully admitted her guilt in the death of the pensioner.