MOSCOW, March 13 - RAPSI. The Ministry of Education and Science has published Russian language requirements for migrant workers, according to which they must know at least 850 words in Russian.

Migrant workers must know enough Russian to be able to read a text, grasp its subject and contents, understand the gist of conversations on social and everyday issues and also make logical statements. The ministry believes that to do this they must know at least 850 Russian words.

A draft order on Russian language tests for foreigners published on the ministry's website sets out the procedure for these tests and for selecting the universities where they will be held. These universities must have special test centers with at least 10 years of experience. The ministry also asks university management to register the names of migrants who pass their tests on an online database and to forward the information to the Federal Migration Service.

Another document explains the conditions and the procedure for issuing certificates to those who pass the Russian language tests. Basic knowledge certificates will be valid for five years. Those who prove that they have a higher than basic knowledge of Russian will be issued unlimited certificates.

The law on obligatory language certification tests for work migrants came into force on December 1, 2012. So far, the requirement only concerns those who plan to work in the catering business, retail trade and the housing and utility services.