‘We looked at over 3,500 complaints regarding unscrupulous employers in 2006, which exceeds the figures for a year earlier by 20%,’ Deputy State Inspector for Legal Issues of Sverdlovsk Region division of Labour inspectorate Maxim Vedernikov announced at the press conference.

According to Mr Vedernikov, most offences have to do with the violations of working conditions regulations (work/rest distribution), arrears of wages or not paying them at all.

‘As a rule, very few employees dare file a complaint since they have to find the evidence themselves,’ Mr Vedernikov noted.