Adau, a 23-year-old from South Sudan, moved to Russia last year after being recruited for a job in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan. She joined the Alabuga Start program, which targets young women, primarily from Africa, seeking career training in fields like logistics and hospitality. Upon starting her job, Adau quickly realized that the reality differed greatly from her expectations, as she was assigned to work in a drone factory.
Allegations have surfaced regarding the recruitment effort, with claims that it involved deception and forced recruits into hazardous conditions, working for lower wages than promised. The program has made headlines recently for its links to human trafficking claims, particularly when South African influencers were accused of promoting it. Although the Alabuga Start program denies the allegations, they acknowledged that some recruits contributed to drone production.
Upon arriving in Russia, Adau faced immediate challenges, including language barriers and climate differences. Initially impressed by the facilities, her experience diminished during her time at the drone factory. Workers, including Adau, were reportedly not informed about their actual job roles and faced restrictions like non-disclosure agreements, preventing communication about their work.
Incidentally, the drone factory was subjected to a Ukrainian drone strike shortly after Adau’s arrival. Adau later reflected on this incident, realizing that the factory’s activities had made it a legitimate target. Following her resignation, Adau noted substantial discrepancies in pay, citing deductions for various reasons that reduced her earnings significantly compared to what had been promised.
Despite her difficult experience, another participant of the program reported a more favorable situation, highlighting that adherence to workplace rules was essential for success. Overall, Adau’s story raises questions about the recruitment practices involved in the Alabuga Start program and the safety and integrity of such work environments.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdrzdpre058o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss