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Article

1 Aug 2022

Author:
Елена Вебер, Радио Азаттык

Kazakhstan: Hundreds of Tranco Zhezkazgan railway workers rally, demanding higher wages & better working conditions

[Translation prepared by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

In Zhezkazgan, hundreds of workers rally, voicing their demands, and are waiting for "real" negotiations, 1 August 2022

On 1st of August in the city of Zhezkazgan, hundreds of workers from the Tranco Zhezkazgan railway company, a contracting organization of Kazakhmys, went to a peaceful protest in the morning to voice their dissatisfaction and demands to the employer and the Kazakhmys corporation. This is not the first rally of the workers of this company...They were promised to resolve the issues, but many demands were not resolved, the workers say, so they went out into the street again...

The akim of the city came out to the audience. And Andrey Gaidin, First Deputy Chairman of the Board of Kazakhmys Corporation, later suggested that employees start discussing the issues...

Employees' requirements: to withdraw from Tranco Zhezkazgan LLP and join Kazakhmys Corporation; to gradually raise wages every six months by 50 percent, as discussed at the enterprise in previous negotiations; to increase the next vacation up to 30 calendar days; to provide a social package for each employee and their family members; to increase per diems and travel allowances; to make appropriate payment for combining the profession; to pay a bonus on the Railwayman's Day; to make a full payment for the shift; to pay extra for harmful working conditions. The workers also demand to ensure the inviolability of workers and protect them from possible persecution - in particular, the initiative group...

An Azattyk correspondent contacted the Kazakhmys company with a request to comment on the situation...It was not possible to get through to the company...

Meanwhile, the workers told RFE/RL that one or even two workers were taken to the police station today. The police did not confirm the fact of an alleged arrest...