During a working visit to Aktobe region, the Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan, Satybaldy Dauletalin, met with the workforce of the «State Archives of Aktobe region».
This year, the only one of its kind in Aktobe turns 100 years old. For this century 1611 stocks and 707 504 units of storage are collected here. Today 92 persons work in the regional archive, all of them are members of primary trade-union organization of branch trade union of workers of information, culture, sports and tourism.
According to Marat Tulebay, director of the oblast archive, the average salary of workers is 130,000 tenge.
In accordance with Article 139 (9) of the Labour Code, health care, social welfare, education, culture, sports, veterinary science and forestry workers who are civil servants and work in rural areas are entitled to higher salaries and wage rates (by no less than 25 per cent) as decided by local representative bodies at the expense of budgetary funds.
“In Aktobe , archivists in rural areas do not receive a supplement of 25% to their salaries. Despite the fact that the Aktobe region maslikhat has approved a supplement of 25% to the official salary, the justice authorities do not register this norm”, said Aigul Aldamzharova, chairman of the trade union, at the meeting.
According to the director of the archive, last year they managed to get the relevant payments by a court decision, this year the situation is again leading to the beginning of court proceedings.
The staff of the archive also voiced another problematic issue – technicians cannot claim medical leave benefits – there is no legal provision.
The Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan, Satybaldy Dauletalin, reminded the employees of the institution that additional guarantees should be provided when negotiating the norms of the collective agreement. As for amendments to labour legislation, the issues raised at the meeting were included in the Federation’s package of proposals to the social partners.
“The collective agreement is an important tool for harmonising labour relations within the collective. Through joint discussions between the employer and employees, taking into account the financial and economic possibilities of the enterprise, additional social guarantees for employees can be provided. However, it is imperative to fix in law the right of employees of archives for the payment of benefits and other compensatory payments. Therefore, the Federation of Trade Unions has formed a package of proposals to the Government, including amendments and additions to Article 139 of the Labor Code, with the inclusion of the list of employees of the archives. In my personal opinion, the work of archives workers – custodians of the nation’s history should be valued,” said Satybaldy Dauletalin.
According to statistics, today there are 223 state archive institutions and their branches (5 of which are at republican level) employing over 3,000 people.
Media Center of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan