As part of the FTURK action “How do you live, primary?” first deputy chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions Mukhtar Tinikeyev met with members of the primary trade union organization “Ekibastuz GRES-2″ in the format of a video-conference.
The trade union organization at Ekibastuz GRES-2” was organized in 1984 and today it has 95% of the station’s employees, which is 1,420 people.
Presenting the participants of the meeting, Dinara Aitjanova, chairwoman of the Pavlodar Region Trade Union Association, noted the importance of the Federation of Trade Unions’ initiative to hold meetings of the FTURK leadership with representatives of primary trade union organizations on the ground.
“In the Year of the Primary Trade Union Organization, the meeting of the leadership of the FTURK with the primary trade union organization “Ekibastuz GRES-2″ is very significant. There is a lot of experience of trade union work, the level of social partnership is raised highly. The chairman of the primary trade union organization is Galeeva Saule Asylbekovna, who has been the head of the primary trade union organization since 2014 and elected to a new term in 2020,” Dinara Aitjanova said.
In her speech, Saule Galeeva spoke about the work of the plant’s trade union committee on the areas: creating decent working conditions, public control over the safety and safety of labor by technical inspectors, work to monitor the implementation of the collective agreement, support for veterans and youth initiatives, work as part of the conciliation commission and production council, support of large families.
According to her, the current collective bargaining agreement pays a one-time allowance for the birth of a child of 70 MRP; every month, mothers with many children and special children are paid 5 MRP; The company’s pensioners receive monthly payments of 2 MRP; additional vacation days are provided in the amount of up to 5 days to persons equated to participants of the Great Patriotic War; wages are increased by an inflation rate of 5 per cent and other social benefits each year.
Azamat Abeldinov, a leading engineer of the health and safety service, told about the experience of trade unions in the production council.
He stressed that the public control over safe conditions and protection of work, the enterprise is carried out by 15 technical inspectors for occupational health and safety, who in case of at least three inspections per month receive a co-payment of 5% of the official salary. Their activities have made it possible to positively influence the dynamics of industrial injuries towards zero injuries in 2021.
During the meeting, the labor collective received the question of adding to the “List of production, jobs, occupations of workers, in favor of which contributors of mandatory professional pension contributions at the expense of their own funds are carried out mandatory professional pension contributions” section “Esage” – “Electricity” of professions related to energy and the reduction of the retirement age for women.
In response to the question, the First Vice-President of the FTURK, Mukhtar Tinykeev, noted that the Federation of Trade Unions had set up several working groups to develop proposals for changes and additions to labour laws and other legislation on social and labour relations.
“You know that for the first time from our trade unions three trade union leaders were elected by mazhilis deputies, through their parliamentary inquiries, we will put these issues on the agenda,” the First Deputy Chairman of the FTURK said.
In her turn, Ekaterina Smylyaeva noted the importance of such meetings and spoke about working with the Federation of Trade Unions to improve the legislative framework in the labor sphere.
“Almost 90 per cent of the amendments made by the working group to the Labour Code are on the employee’s side. We are also considering proposals from the field and are ready to discuss changes and additions with employees of real sector enterprises. Today we insist on the return of the pension annuity, lowering the thresholds,” Ekaterina Smylyaeva said.
She also noted the urgency of considering the addition of “The list of production, jobs, occupations of workers, in favor of which depositors of mandatory professional pension contributions at the expense of their own funds are carried out mandatory professional pension contributions.”
“This is a very important issue. First of all, it is necessary to conduct an analysis and discuss this issue with employers’ associations. As a result of the consensus, the agreed list will be submitted to the commissioners for consideration,” the deputy added.
Sergey Sivaraksha, head of the social infrastructure development department of Ekibastuz GRES-2, spoke about the development of social partnership, interaction with the trade union and its role in the life of the labor collective.
“A special protective role of workers in all areas of social partnership development is played by an elected trade union committee, the results of which are the confidence in the primary trade union organization of the entire labor collective. The employer makes all important decisions for the team in partnership with the trade union and with the mayor’s office of the city of Ekibastuz and the village of Sunny,” said Sergey Sivaraksha.
Orazbek Bekbas, chairman of the Kazakhstan Energy Union industry, praised the result of the development of social partnership at the company.
“Social stability in the enterprise has been preserved. A good collective bargaining agreement. 95% of union membership coverage is an important indicator. The city-forming enterprise pays due attention to the village of Sunny,” Orazbek Bekbas said.
At the same time, the need to further improve conditions for workers in the framework of social partnership was noted.
“It is necessary to improve, improve the terms of the collective agreement, take into account additional points, including providing for the employer’s contributions to the activities of the trade union committee,” the chairman of the Industry Trade Union said.
Summing up the meeting, Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions Mukhtar Tinykeev noted the importance of active trade unions working with social partners to preserve social and labor stability, develop social partnership, fulfill the tasks set in the General Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republican Employers’ Associations and the Republican Trade Union Associations for 2021-2023.
“The main task of trade unions is to protect labor rights through a collective agreement. Your company has one of their reference collective agreements. The issues raised today are on the spectrum of special attention of the Federation of Trade Unions, which we raise at all venues,” Mukhtar Tinikeyev said.
The First Vice-President of the FTURK expressed the view that the minimum wage should be raised in the country.
“The approach of the Federation of Trade Unions in this matter is very tough. We need to radically rethink the approaches to calculating wages. The minimum wage in Kazakhstan of 42,500 tenge is a very small amount. The ILO has approved the Keitz Index, which says that the minimum wage should be 50% of the average wage. Today, if the average wage in Kazakhstan is 206,000 tenge, the minimum wage should be 103,000 tenge. In our country, the MPC makes up 20% of the average salary,” the first deputy chairman of the FTURK said.
He also stressed the importance of improving social partnerships.
“On March 12, 2021, the General Agreement was signed between the Government, the Republican Employers’ Associations and the Republican Trade Union Associations for 2021-2023. We have been able to include standards in the new General Agreement to improve the pay system. A working group on phasing out the minimum wage, legislating wage indexation in enterprises of all forms of ownership and ratification of the ILO Convention No.131 “On the establishment of a minimum wage with special consideration of developing countries will be established within the framework of the Social Partnership. The objectives set by the new General Agreement are to create favorable and safe working conditions for workers,” Mukhtar Tinikeev said.
Media Center of the Federation of Trade Unions