Employment projects for Zhanaozen to be updated

Zhanaozen development was discussed on Monday at the extended meeting in Aktau chaired by the head of the government commission Umirzak Shukeyev, Interfax-Kazakhstan reports. According to Akim (Governor) of Mangistau oblast Baurzhan Mukhametzhanov, the long-term plan for Zhanaozen development until 2020 is focused on employment of the residents. “Considering the natural increase, Zhanaozen population will make 150 thousand people in 2020 (it is currently around 90 thousand),” Akim said. However, the deficiency of jobs could reach 15 thousand. “19 new industrialization projects have been initiated” to prevent such deficiency. “As soon as construction of these facilities is completed, we will be able to employ these people,” Akim said. Meanwhile, head of the entrepreneurship development commission of Kazakhstan Ministry of Economic Development and Trade Kairat Aitkenov said that the regional development plan includes 47 social and 14 investment projects. “We think that the quota for Zhanaozen residents should be 10 percent of new jobs (created in the region),” he noted. Head of the government commission Shukeyev said: “Let us not build castles in the air. Many of these projects are impossible. That’s why I instruct the work group to review every single project. People have to know when certain companies will open and how many jobs they will offer. I give you one month to work out the list of the most realistic projects.” Aitkenov also said that “a new center of entrepreneurship development will open in Zhanaozen on Tuesday, January 10, where entrepreneurs offered privileged loans with low interest rates as financial support.” “Unsecured loans of up to 5 million tenge ($33.8 thousand) can be issued to the entrepreneurs who have suffered from the clashes,” he said. Participants of the meeting also discussed that 1,622 fired oil workers submitted employment applications. The ones employed are already receiving their wages, but not all of them are actually working. Shukeyev instructed to provide all employed workers with work by the end of January. “Buy equipment wherever you want, you can get them do some auxiliary works meanwhile. They cannot earn money for doing nothing,” he told the management of Ozenmunaigas. 69 fired oil workers have applied to the special commission to dispute their termination. “However Illegal termination has not been confirmed in any of these case,” Shukeyev said. Clashes happened on December 16-17 in Zhanaozen and Shetpe village of Mangistau oblast. The riots claimed 16 lives and 100 people were injured. Major buildings of the town and village administrations, hotels, administration building of Ozenmunaigas were burnt. Property of individuals and legal entities was destroyed, numerous cars were burnt, ATMs, shops and banks were robbed. Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced the state of emergency in Zhanaozen until January 31.