Socio-economic problems of the shift method of labor organization in modern Russia (case study of the Far East)

In the context of the current geopolitical reality and the reorientation of the Russian economy towards the East, the Far East is acquiring the status of a strategic macro-region. However, the implementation of large-scale investment projects in mineral extraction, transport hub construction, and energy infrastructure faces a critical shortage of qualified personnel and harsh natural and climatic conditions. In this regard, the shift work method (vakhtovy metod) becomes a practically non-alternative way of maintaining production processes in remote and sparsely populated areas.

To understand the issue, it is first necessary to define the essence of the phenomenon under consideration. As noted by N.V. Balashova, the shift work method is a special form of labor organization based on the use of labor resources away from their permanent residence, when the daily return of workers to their place of residence cannot be ensured [1, p. 462].

The multifaceted nature of the concept under investigation is revealed through the synthesis of various research approaches, each of which emphasizes specific aspects of labor organization. In particular, the organizational and legal substance of the term is detailed in the works of A.V. Ilyinykh and D.R. Romanyukha, who interpret this method through the lens of special legislative regulation governing individuals working under conditions of significant geographical remoteness from their permanent location [4, p. 98]. This definition is complemented by the economic and managerial perspective of N.V. Balashova, who views the shift work system as a strategic tool for enhancing production efficiency in hard-to-reach areas through specific personnel management mechanisms [1, p. 465].

At the regional level, the «shift worker factor» takes on the characteristics of a systemic element in the functioning of resource-based territorial economies. As noted by N.V. Lomakina and A.D. Faiman, the shift work method is predicated on the active use of external mobile labor resources, which inevitably transforms the regional landscape [5, p. 23]. At the same time, the sociolabor dimension, explored by V.N. Semenova and her co-authors, defines shift work as a system associated with special work and rest regimes, aimed at fulfilling production tasks in an extreme external environment [9, p. 60]. The practical significance of the method as a univer- sal cross-sectoral tool is substantiated in the works of P.V. Vodyasov, A.V. Minenko, and T.V. Nokhrina, who demonstrate the efficacy of shift-based technologies in mitigating workforce shortages in both agriculture and transportation infrastructure [2, p. 37; 6, p. 94].

Based on the definitions examined, we believe that the shift work method is a specific form of conducting the labor process away from the employees' permanent place of residence, when their daily return home cannot be ensured. Work is performed at sites significantly remote from the employer's location by engaging rotational (shift) personnel who, while on-site, reside in specially established shift settlements or field camps.

The shift work method is fundamentally based on the factor of geographical remoteness, which precludes the possibility of daily commuting for personnel to their permanent residences and necessitates strict adherence to the principle of rotation. This cyclical nature is expressed in a clear alternation between periods of intensive on-site work and subsequent inter-shift rest. The collective's way of life under such conditions assumes a character of complete self-sufficiency, involving residence in specialized shift settlements with comprehensive provision of social benefits by the employer. The most crucial economic component of this system is its compensatory nature, manifested in the provision of special allowances and «northern» guarantees. However, as

L.V. Zaitseva and T.A. Anbrecht rightly note, the issues of equitable distribution of these benefits remain one of the most contentious legal and economic problems in current practice [3, p. 151].

For the Far East, shift labor is not merely a technical solution but a complex socio-economic system that requires detailed study from the perspective of the efficient use of human potential.

The conducted research allows us to identify the key problem of the functioning of resource– based territorial economies - the formation of the «transit» character of regional development. The shift method, based on the active use of external mobile labor resources, inevitably transforms the socio-economic landscape. Within the framework of this work, the «transit economy» is understood as the state of the regional economic system, in which the added value created by the attracted personnel practically does not participate in the formation of the internal demand of the macroregion. The income of shift workers is overwhelmingly washed out of the Far East, heading to the regions of permanent residence of specialists (Central Russia, Siberia, CIS countries). This process hinders the formation of sustainable local solvent demand and slows down the development of small and medium-sized businesses in the service industries.

The specifics of shift labor organization in the Far East are systematized in Table 1.

Table 1. Organization of Labor by Shift Work Method in the Far East

Criterion	Characteristic
Geographical Scope	Interregional nature (attracting personnel from Central Russia, Siberia, and CIS countries).
Sectoral Focus	Primarily hydrocarbon, gold, and diamond extraction; timber industry; and railway construction.
Logistical load	A high proportion of the cost of air travel (up to 15-20% of the cost) and the maintenance of autonomous villages.
Climatic Load	Work in conditions of extremely low temperatures, permafrost, and high humidity.
Legal Status	A complex system for calculating northern coefficients and bonuses depending on the specific location.

The authors pay special attention to the analysis of employers' costs, which acquire a specific character in the conditions of the Far East. In addition to direct labor costs, companies incur significant costs for providing life support in shift settlements. The economic assessment of the effectiveness of long-term investments in human capital here directly correlates with the quality of medical care and the socio-psychological climate. The introduction of telemedicine and modern diagnostic systems in autonomous conditions makes it possible to reduce the cost of emergency evacuation of personnel, which can cost millions of rubles per case in remote areas of Yakutia or Chukotka.

The application of the shift work method is not limited to the extractive sector. As indicated by T. V. Nokhrina, implementing this method within structural divisions of JSCo Russian Railways «RZD», particularly in track sections, helps to promptly address tasks related to the repair and operation of transport infrastructure amid local staff shortages [6, p. 93].

The economic efficiency of the shift work method is traditionally justified by savings on the construction of full-fledged towns and settlements. However, contemporary research indicates that the «shift worker factor» creates a complex set of effects for the regional economy. N.V. Lomakina and A.D. Faiman emphasize that the use of non-resident labor in resource-based industries forms what is known as a «transit economy». The income earned by shift workers is largely drained from the region, failing to generate effective demand within the Far East [5, p. 25]. Consequently, for the regional budget, the economic benefit may be lower than expected, despite high gross regional product (GRP) figures.

From a human resource management perspective, the shift work method requires significant investments in logistics and transportation (especially air travel in the Far Eastern context); occupational safety and medical provision; and maintaining the psycho-physiological well-being of workers.

Economic efficiency declines with high employee turnover. As noted by V.N. Semenova and co-authors, the specific nature of shift work (isolation, disruption of circadian rhythms) leads to rapid professional burnout among specialists, which in turn increases the costs associated with recruitment and onboarding of new personnel [9, p. 62].

The experience of other regions could prove valuable and adaptable for the East. For instance, P.V. Vodyasov and A.V. Minenko view the shift system as a tool for addressing staffing shortages even in agriculture, which confirms the method's universality for labor-deficit markets [2, p. 37].

The economic efficiency of the shift method is traditionally justified by savings on the construction of full-fledged cities. However, modern analysis indicates the presence of a complex of hidden effects. The author's research reveals the relationship between the level of staff turnover and the degradation of the «digital footprint» of professional competencies. The specifics of shift work (isolation, disruption of circadian rhythms) lead to accelerated professional burnout. According to the data obtained during the analysis, the cost of recruiting and adapting a new specialist in the conditions of the North is 40-60% higher than in the developed regions, which makes the strategy of «saving personnel» economically more profitable than the continuous rotation model.

A summary classification of the socioeconomic problems of using the shift method is presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Main Socio-Economic Problems of Applying the Shift Work Method in Labor Organization in the Far East

Problem Category	Problem Description
Economic	Capital outflow from the region («transit effect»); high unit cost of the workplace.
Socio-Psychological	Erosion of family ties; social alienation; «shift worker syndrome».
Medical and Biological	Premature physical deterioration due to climatic maladjustment and overwork.
Legal	Inequity in the distribution of «northern» guarantees; legal loopholes in interregional shift work.

One of the most acute problems remains the legal vulnerability of employees. The study revealed facts of discrimination in the interregional shift method: specialists arriving from the southern regions often face an imbalance in the accrual of allowances, which provokes social tension within the teams [3, p. 152]. The COVID-19 pandemic additionally confirmed the high sensitivity of autonomous settlements to external shocks, when the cost of quarantine measures and changes in turnover schedules significantly reduced the profitability of a number of mining projects [7; 8].

To increase the effectiveness of the shift method in the Far East, the authors propose a set of measures with elements of scientific novelty in terms of government regulation:

• -    The introduction of a tax incentive mechanism for companies investing in the development of local dual-use infrastructure (facilities used by both shift workers and the local population), which will partially mitigate the negative effects of the «transit economy».

• -    Development of a unified digital register of «northern competencies» to minimize the cost of finding qualified personnel within the macroregion.

• -    Legislative consolidation of standards for the «social well-being» of shift settlements, including mandatory psychological support and telemedicine monitoring.

Thus, the shift method of labor organization in the Far East is a strategic necessity. However, its application is accompanied by a set of problems that require a transition from a model of simple resource exploitation to a strategy for human development. Successful development of the region is impossible without a deep integration of the interests of the state, business and employees, ensuring the protection of human rights not only in regulations, but also in the actual practice of labor relations.