Russia is preparing to make changes to its Labor Code that would permit the employment of teenagers at defense enterprises, as reported by Kommersant.

Deputies of the State Council of Tatarstan are proposing amendments that would allow the employment of teenagers aged 16 to 18 in jobs with hazardous working conditions under fixed-term employment contracts for practical training in relevant professions.

These amendments would also permit the use of minors in defense enterprises. Notably, this move appears to contradict both the Constitution of the Russian Federation and international law.

Supporters of the initiative argue that it is necessary to expedite personnel training, especially in the context of import substitution.

Yaroslav Nilov, the head of the Russian State Duma Committee on Labor, suggested that 'working is sometimes less harmful than being on the street' and emphasized the current need for such measures. He pointed out shortages of personnel in sectors like aircraft manufacturing and the Kalashnikov concern, with employers even resorting to hiring pensioners and foreign labor.

The document is currently under preliminary consideration by the Council of Legislators at the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.