Utility Workers in Shalkar District Appeal to President Over Wage Delays

Employees of the municipal company “Uly Borsyq” in Shalkar district have claimed chronic wage delays, saying payments are often late, while pension and medical contributions are not transferred for months, Orda.kz reports.

Workers also noted they receive neither milk nor protective clothing for hazardous conditions.

In a video appeal to the president, employees said they have no money even for food and must buy groceries on credit.

Our salaries are delayed by up to a month and a half. Pension and medical fund contributions aren’t paid for seven or eight months. Vacation pay is late. In 2019, wages were raised, but we never saw the increase. An audit found 190 million tenge in violations, but the case was quietly dropped. We receive no milk or uniforms for hazardous work. The union doesn’t help us. We demand that the law be upheld and the company investigated,  the workers stated.

Among them are families with many children.

One employee, Serik Akhmetov, added:

At the clinic they say, ‘No funds were received,’ and refuse treatment. Everyone has loans we can’t repay. I have three children, and my wife is pregnant with our fourth.

The district administration acknowledged the problem, saying wages for July will be paid in early September, while August salaries will be distributed during the month.

Officials noted that bonuses cannot be paid due to the company’s financial difficulties.

Original Author: Ardaq Yerubay