Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan Satybaldy Dauletalin held working meetings with the chairmen of territorial unions of trade unions on the socio-economic situation in the country.
During the online meeting, the professional leaders of the regional Trade Union centers reported on the current situation in each of the regions and provided information on the work carried out by trade union organizations to help stabilize the situation.
It was noted that during the state of emergency, Trade union centers of all regions of the country have switched to operational mode of operation – negotiations are underway with social partners to prevent violations of workers’ rights, the work of public reception rooms, hotlines has been activated, active explanatory work is being carried out with labor collectives.
According to the chairman of the Trade Union Center of Pavlodar region Dinara Aitzhanova, from the first days of the protests, a number of meetings were held with social partners – akim of Pavlodar region and heads of large enterprises of the region on issues of observance of labor rights and support of workers.
“During the state of emergency, many enterprises in the region reoriented their work, including by reducing working hours. Wages have been paid without delay. Explanatory work has been strengthened in labor collectives and in the media about the rules and conditions of life during an emergency. Today, all industrial enterprises, public utilities and hospitals in the region are operating normally,” Dinara Aitzhanova stressed.
Special attention was paid by the Trade Union Center to providing assistance to law enforcement forces.
Dinara Aitzhanova noted that a food reception point for military personnel involved in the cordon was promptly deployed in the Trade Union Center of the Pavlodar region.
The chairman of the Trade Union Center of Almaty, Zauresh Umirbayeva, also spoke about measures to support the population.
According to her, anti-terrorist operations are being carried out in the city, the situation has stabilized and many enterprises have started working normally.
“The trade unions of Almaty carry out explanatory work on compliance with security measures in each primary trade union organization. The issues of full-fledged remuneration for the period of forced downtime with employers have been resolved positively,” Zauresh Umirbayeva said.
Meanwhile, she said that in support of public order, the city’s trade unions and other public organizations organized meals for military personnel, representatives of the CSTO, as well as for medical workers. In addition, trade union activists took part in the organization of hospital security and actions on voluntary blood donation for affected citizens.
To date, trade union organizations in Almaty are considering the issue of providing material support to injured ambulance drivers.
Special attention is paid to the issue of protecting the rights of employees of the Almaty International Airport.
“Airport employees may have a problem paying wages for the time of forced downtime. Negotiations are underway with the management of the airport,” the chairman of the Professional Center of Almaty noted.
The chairmen of the Trade Union Centers of the western regions of the country also reported on the stabilization of the situation.
The chairman of the Trade Union Center of Aktobe region Altynbek Amirgaliyev reported on the measures taken to increase the wages of employees of oil companies in the region. According to him, the issue of increasing the wages of oil workers by 100% is currently being considered.
“Employers express their consent to the fulfillment of this obligation. Today we received information about a 50% increase in the wages of oil workers. The decision on further increase by another 50% will be made in February this year. The situation in the labor collectives is stable,” Altynbek Amirgaliyev said.
Chairman of the Trade Union Center of Atyrau region Isturgan Baymukhanov, in turn, spoke about visiting a number of enterprises during mass strikes, including the Tengiz oil and gas fields.
“As you know, in connection with the completion of the Keleshek Keneyu project, about 39.5 thousand jobs are expected to be cut at the Tengiz field. Within the framework of negotiations with social partners, the issue of employment of 12 thousand released workers to other enterprises is being resolved,” Isturgan Baymukhanov said.
Having heard the information of regional trade union leaders, the Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions Satybaldy Dauletalin noted the coordinated work of trade union organizations in a difficult period.
First of all, he called on member organizations to strengthen measures of trade union assistance to ensure stability and public order and outlined a number of specific tasks.
“It is important that today the situation is improving in all regions of Kazakhstan. We must promote the position of trade unions, become an example for the whole society on the development of the principles of unity, ownership and justice and actively participate in the stabilization of the situation in our country. We have a common goal – to improve the well-being of ordinary people,” the Chairman of the FTURK stressed.
Among the most important tasks, he outlined the importance of preventing violations of workers’ rights by employers during a state of emergency.
The Chairman of the FTURK instructed to take the necessary measures to assist injured workers to maintain constant communication with labor collectives, to activate the work of public reception rooms, hotlines for prompt consultations and consideration of appeals of trade union members on socio-economic and labor issues.
“Holding 2022 under the auspices of the Year of Social Partnership opens up the opportunity to strengthen dialogue with government agencies and employers. We need to consider effective ways to increase the level of social dialogue. The Head of State drew the attention of state bodies to the importance of holding meetings with citizens. Trade unions also need to place special emphasis on meetings with labor collectives and visits to primary trade union organizations,” the Chairman of the FTURK instructed.
One of the key tasks assigned to member organizations is also the development of systematic measures to improve the socio-economic situation of employees and prevent the emergence of social tension among labor collectives.
“The President of Kazakhstan instructed the Government to develop a program of socio-economic development. In the current situation, trade unions should openly talk about the existing problems of workers and take all measures to improve the socio-economic situation of workers. We need to carry out serious and constructive work to develop concrete proposals to the Government,” Satybaldy Dauletalin said.
In order to prevent offenses, the Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan noted the importance of conducting extensive information and explanatory work in labor collectives about the norms of behavior in a state of emergency, as well as compliance with measures of sanitary and epidemiological safety of citizens.
Media Center of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan