Under a new law that went into effect this week, non-Russians will not be allowed to work as salespeople in shops and markets.

The ban was presented by Vladimir Putin as a way of improving employment prospects for Russian citizens.

Russian media warns that it will increase the labor costs for retailers and drive up inflation.

The Federal Migration Service, a government agency, reported nearly full compliance in Moscow.

At Moscow’s markets, lot of stalls had been forced to close and were displaying signs reading: “Wanted: Sales-people, must be Russian.”

According to BBC, Up to 20,000 non-Russians currently work in Moscow markets alone in a tradition going back to Soviet times.

The new law is the latest in a series on immigration.

On 15 January, migrants from CIS member-states coming to Russia under a visa-free regime were banned from selling alcohol and pharmaceuticals.

Ahead of 1 April, the number of foreigners working in Russian markets was reduced to 40% of the workforce.

“Authorities in Moscow will continue planned inspections not only of major markets, but also of public catering places and other facilities where observance of immigration legislation is necessary,” the representative of the migration service reported.

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