Employees of the chemicals factory Kazphosphate in southern Kazakhstan declared a strike on November 23 citing poor working conditions and low wages. Officials in turn explained the situation citing a “misunderstanding” between employees and a mid-level manager, who had insulted plant workers and as a result was fired. Azattyq’s reporting suggests complaints about working conditions arose out of the incident with the manager. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Kazphosphate to respond to the allegations. It did not.