Prorva Oil Field: Payment Issues Arise

At the Prorva oil field in the Atyrau region, workers and subcontractors were left without money after fulfilling orders for a major oil company, JSC EmbaMunayGas, and its contractors, Orda reports.

People have been waiting for their salaries for months, and businessmen have been waiting for payment for services rendered.

What Happened?

The workers who worked in the "Caspiy Samaly" shift camp were engaged in significant repairs at the field facilities. They completed the work but did not receive their wages.

15 people were left without the promised payments. One was supposed to receive 2.1 million tenge.

We've worked for a month, it's winter, there's no other work, no salary. Got loans, there's no money left for medicine. How many times have we asked for clarification - we haven't received an answer, says worker Raushan Sarsengaliyeva. 

Subcontractors who worked with EmbaMunayGas and its contractors also encountered problems.

Serik Muratov, for instance, claims that Dos-Zhan, the company that won the tender, owes him 64 million tenge for services rendered.

At first they promised, and then they said outright: 'We won't give you any money, do whatever you want.' I have all the documents at hand, but they simply refuse to acknowledge the debt,  the businessman said.

JSC EmbaMunayGas's Position

JSC EmbaMunayGas admits that the problem exists but simultaneously states that the company cannot intervene in its contractors' financial and economic activities.

We work within the framework of the contract. We have no right to intervene in the affairs of the contractor, commented Salamat Mukashev, head of the company's construction department.

The primary customer cannot help the workers and entrepreneurs.

Contractor Denies Debts

The Dos-Zhan company, in turn, stated that they did not enter into official contracts with the workers, and therefore, the contractor does not recognize their demands.

A subcontractor is involved here, and we are conducting pre-trial proceedings against him,  the company reported.

When the situation attracted media attention, the workers were paid.

But not the subcontractors.

If the situation cannot be resolved at the level of JSC EmbaMunayGas and the supervisory authorities, those affected have only one option -  a lawsuit.

Practice shows that such legal proceedings can drag on for years.

Original Author: Daniel Arturov