Medeu Reconstruction Workers Complain About Unpaid Wages

Workers involved in the reconstruction of the Medeu high-mountain skating rink say they have not been paid for several weeks. According to them, the subcontractor promised to pay wages every two weeks, but the deadline has long passed, Orda.kz reports.

One of the workers described the situation on social media. The author of the post said the complaint concerned the subcontractor Stroy Engineering.

We agreed that wages would be paid every two weeks. I worked for two weeks, then waited another two weeks for the money. Every day they say: tomorrow.he wrote.

According to the worker, the payment keeps being postponed, and no exact date has been given. The author of the post did not specify how many people had faced the same problem or how much they are owed.

The editorial office is preparing an official request to the city akimat. At the time of publication, no response had been received.

Who Is Reconstructing Medeu

Earlier, Kazinform, citing the Almaty Construction Department, reported that the general contractor for the reconstruction of Medeu is VD Stroy-engineering LLP. However, based on the worker’s post, it is not possible to clearly establish whether he means the same company or a separate subcontractor with a similar name.

VD Stroy-engineering LLP has operated in Kazakhstan since 2004. The company designs and builds turnkey facilities. It is headed by Azamat Usimbekov, who was born in Aktobe in 1989 and previously managed several construction companies. Usimbekov is also vice president of the Basketball Federation of Kazakhstan and heads the National Archery Federation.

The akimat chose the general contractor through a special procedure, citing Medeu’s status. The complex is considered a state monument and one of Almaty’s main sports and tourist sites.

After renovation, the rink is expected to meet the requirements of the International Skating Union. The authorities also promised to equip areas for bandy, ice speedway, international competitions and cultural events.

However, in 2024 and early 2025, officials did not disclose the details of the project or the name of the contractor. In response to Orda.kz’s requests, the Construction Department said information about the cost, financing and selection of the company would be published later.

Not The First Case

Complaints about unpaid work at major sports facilities in Almaty have appeared before. In February this year, builders and subcontractors of the Sunkar ski complex held a picket near the city prosecutor’s office.

They said they had been trying for 16 years to receive payment for work completed before the 2011 Asian Games. Company representatives claimed they were owed several billion tenge and demanded a criminal investigation into alleged embezzlement of budget funds.

The Almaty akimat previously told the editorial office that all debts to the company had been paid. The contractors disagreed and said they still had not received the money.

Original author: Saule Abdykamit

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