On 2 September 2026, the State Labour Inspectorate of Nizhny Novgorod Region launched an investigation into reports of systematic delays in wage payments to employees of the Volga Arena ice palace on Cape Strelka in Nizhny Novgorod.[1][2]
Background
The inspection was prompted by complaints from arena workers — general laborers, cleaners, and security guards. According to one employee named Alla, wages for July had never been paid, and delays had occurred on multiple occasions prior to that. Under the terms of their employment contracts, wages were to be transferred three times a month — on the 10th, 15th, and 25th — but in August only the 10th payment was made.[3] The employment contracts of the workers who filed complaints had been concluded with the company KSK Stroy.[3]
Positions of the parties
Corporation for the Development of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, which acted as the concession organizer, stated that all funds stipulated by the contract had been transferred to the general contractor — JSC Crocus — in full and on schedule.[3][4] Neither the client nor the concessionaire — LLC Ledovyy Dvorets (Ice Palace), a subsidiary of the Development Corporation — is legally entitled to intervene in settlements between the general contractor and subcontracting organizations.[3][4] Nevertheless, the Development Corporation declared its categorical support for strict compliance with labour legislation at the site and stated that it was independently looking into the situation.[3]
Progress of the inspection
Specialists from the State Labor Inspectorate began establishing the circumstances and verifying the credibility of the complaints received. If the violations were confirmed, the inspectorate intended to take measures to restore the workers' rights.[2]
Construction of the Volga Arena was carried out under a concession agreement valued at over 25 billion rubles. The ice palace, with a capacity of 12,000 spectators, was commissioned in August 2026 and became the new home venue of hockey club Torpedo.[3]
Sources
- Otkryty Nizhny — The Labor Inspectorate began checking unpaid wages at the Volga Arena construction site — The Labor Inspectorate began checking unpaid wages at the Volga Arena construction site — … (archive)
- Zhivyom v Nizhnem — The Nizhny Novgorod labor inspectorate is checking wage delays at the ice arena — Zhivyom v Nizhnem (archive)
- GIPERNN — Nizhny Novgorod looks into wage delays for ice arena workers (archive)
- Zhivyom v Nizhnem — The Development Corporation is investigating the reasons for the wage delays to ice arena staff — Zhivyom v Nizhnem (archive)