On October 8, 2019, a solemn event of the Federation of Trade Unions took place dedicated to the celebration of the Day of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan with the participation of representatives of labor collectives in various industries, including primary trade union organizations, social partners, and veterans of the trade union movement.
This year, the country’s trade unions officially celebrate the Day of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan, established by the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, according to which the date of October 10 is included in the list of professional holidays of the country.
The State Secretary of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Krymbek Kusherbayev, delivered a congratulatory speech at the event.
In his welcoming address, Krymbek Kusherbayev emphasized the high role of trade unions in improving the welfare of workers in the labor market.
The Secretary of State emphasized that the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Zhomart Tokaev, highly appreciates the merits of the trade unions in the socio-economic development of the country.
“The head of state, congratulating you, has high hopes for you, wishes you success in work and well-being of your families,” Krymbek Kusherbayev added.
On this day, letters of thanks on behalf of the President of the RK were awarded to trade unionists from different regions: the chairman of the representative office of the Trade Union Movement of the Zhanaarkinsky District of the Karaganda Region Nurlan Akyshev, an employee of Astana-Teplotransit JSC Zhakhmash Omarbek, a Kazakh language teacher at school No. 204 of Aiteke bi, Kyzylorda Oblast Roza Zhumagazieva.
“You are the defenders of independence, the defenders of social justice, the defenders of the man of labor,” Krymbek Kusherbayev emphasized.
Letters of thanks on behalf of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin, activists of the trade union movement were awarded by the Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Kazakhstan Akmadi Sarbasov.
Making a congratulatory speech, Akmadi Sarbasov called the trade unions a key social partner in addressing important issues of social and labor relations.
In the ranking of the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum for the component characterizing the state of labor relations of Kazakhstan, it rose to 30th place among 140 countries. This is the result of not only updated labor laws, but also taken together with social partners, and above all, with professional unions, systemic measures to develop social and labor relations.
The Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Eraly Tugzhanov, noted the important role of the country’s trade union movement in resolving issues related to social and labor relations.
According to him, today in the Federation of Trade Unions the systematic work of branch trade unions has been built, starting from primary trade union organizations.
The head of the FPRK focused on the key achievements of the trade unions. Trade unions have been actively involved in the work of the republican and regional headquarters in monitoring wage increases for low-paid categories of workers.
Affiliates, together with local executive bodies, work with large companies to raise wages for low-paid workers.
Today, 199.6 thousand employers in the republic have raised the salary of 1.1 million workers. At the above enterprises, the average salary of low-paid workers increased by 31%.
At the initiative of the trade unions, the question was raised of revising the methodology for determining the base salary, the effect of the minimum wage on wages and the revision of the tariff rates for all categories of workers.
In the Year of Youth, work with studying and working youth, which today makes up about 32 percent of the total number of all union members, has intensified significantly. On the agenda of trade unions is a number of urgent tasks for the further employment of young people and increase their competitiveness in the labor market.
Along with this, it was noted that the trade unions of Kazakhstan remain an active member of the International Labor Organization and an integral part of the global processes taking place on the labor market as a whole.
Eraly Tugzhanov expressed his gratitude to the social partners, as well as the previous leaders of the FPRK – Mukashev S.O., Kusainova A.K., Abdirai B.Zh., who at various times made their significant contribution to the development of the trade union movement and the promotion of trade union ideas.
The head of the FPRK paid special attention to the merits of labor veterans and the trade union movement, noting that their experience and professional approach to business would remain an example for future generations.
– Our work to promote union ideas is in tune with the universal goals of the country’s national development! The main wealth of the state is the Man of Labor, concluded Yerali Tugzhanov.
As part of the solemn meeting, an awarding ceremony was held for social partners, trade union members, and trade union veterans who made a significant contribution to the development of their industry and trade union movement.
On the eve of the holiday, on behalf of the Senim Healthcare Trade Union, employees of a number of medical institutions were awarded housing and money certificates worth from 250 thousand to 3 million tenge.