Alexander Zhukov, the deputy prime minister in charge of social policy and labor issues in the Russian government, has said that current complexities in the world economy will not have negative impacts on the local labor market and social programs. “Today, our labor market situation remains stable, with the unemployment rate now even lower than our pre-crisis figures.” Besides, the deputy prime minister also noted that even at the height of the crisis in 2008-09, none of the previously adopted social programs was canceled. “Indeed, quite the contrary, the government even launched some new social programs. In this regard, I wish to reiterate that, despite the complexities in today's global economy, all the social programs adopted or envisaged by the federal government will be fully implemented.”