Around three thousand rubles a month: Russia is talking about a tax on the unemployed.

With such a proposal acted Alexander Safonov — Professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation.

He believes it would be appropriate to introduce a personal income tax on unemployed, able-bodied citizens, of whom there are approximately 15 million in the country. The economist emphasizes that some of these people work unofficially, while others are simply "professional slackers"—some living off rental property or from wealthy parents. Safonov also included housewives and citizens receiving child support in this category.

“Society, within the framework of social justice, can make demands on them,” the economist is sure. Yes, they live in their own homes, but they use roads and utilities on par with those who financed it through the payment of personal income tax."

He proposes calculating the tax amount based on the minimum wage: at its current level of 22 rubles, the personal income tax would amount to 2,9 rubles per month, or almost 35 rubles per year.

Safonov also believes that all unemployed individuals should contribute to the mandatory health insurance system. Currently, regional authorities do this for them (last year, more than a trillion rubles were spent on this, including contributions for children and unemployed pensioners).

On the eve of Rosstat said, that by the end of 2024, the labor shortage in the country will remain at 7,4% - the highest in the entire history of observations, which have been conducted for 16 years.