11 February 2014 | 19:42

Labor Minister of Kazakhstan comments on Abu Dhabi Plaza strike

The Minister of Labor and Social Security of Kazakhstan Tamara Duisenova. ©Marat Abilov

Kazakhstan Labor Minister Tamara Duisenova has commented on yesterday's strike of the workers constructing Abu Dhabi Plaza skyscraper in Astana, Tengrinews reports. She pointed out that the Government does not set salary rates for private companies. "The private sector is in the social partnership jurisdiction. The employer offers the individual labor contract and each person as a worker, who wants to get a job signs it. It is an individual contract," she said in the Government lobbies. "And if there unsolved issues in the sector, than it should be considered by the social partnership, trade unions or representatives of employees and employers in case they have them. The issues also might be applied to the National tripartite commission that considers the issue with participation of government, employer and employee. We can solve the issue on the level of social partnership. The Government doesn't distinguish the salary rates for private sector," Duisenova said. Yesterday around 700 workers of Abu Dhabi Plaza project in Astana went on strike demanding an increase in wages. According to the workers, the company has kept their wages low for five months and when their asked for a rise all they got were promises. The workers returned to work the same day after the company promised to deal with their problem until this Friday. The workers promise to write a letter to the Labor Ministry and even return to striking if things don't change for them. Executive Director of Arabtec Holding Murat Zhumanov said that the workers acted in violation of rules of settlement of labor conflicts. Meanwhile, he promised that the workers would get their mark-ups by Friday. According to Zhumanov, only about 200 people are discontent out of 1000 workers employed at the construction site. Earlier, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and New Technology and Vice Prime Minister Asset Issekeshev said that the grad Abu Dhabi Plaza project was estimated at $1.6 billion. The project is funded by investors from the UAE. According to His Excellency Mr. Abubaker Seddiq Al Khoori, Chairman of the Board at Aldar Properties PJSC, the construction works this year will employ about 7000 people working on two shifts. Currently, about 1000 are employed at the construction site.
By Assemgul Kassenova

Kazakhstan Labor Minister Tamara Duisenova has commented on yesterday's strike of the workers constructing Abu Dhabi Plaza skyscraper in Astana, Tengrinews reports. She pointed out that the Government does not set salary rates for private companies. "The private sector is in the social partnership jurisdiction. The employer offers the individual labor contract and each person as a worker, who wants to get a job signs it. It is an individual contract," she said in the Government lobbies. "And if there unsolved issues in the sector, than it should be considered by the social partnership, trade unions or representatives of employees and employers in case they have them. The issues also might be applied to the National tripartite commission that considers the issue with participation of government, employer and employee. We can solve the issue on the level of social partnership. The Government doesn't distinguish the salary rates for private sector," Duisenova said. Yesterday around 700 workers of Abu Dhabi Plaza project in Astana went on strike demanding an increase in wages. According to the workers, the company has kept their wages low for five months and when their asked for a rise all they got were promises. The workers returned to work the same day after the company promised to deal with their problem until this Friday. The workers promise to write a letter to the Labor Ministry and even return to striking if things don't change for them. Executive Director of Arabtec Holding Murat Zhumanov said that the workers acted in violation of rules of settlement of labor conflicts. Meanwhile, he promised that the workers would get their mark-ups by Friday. According to Zhumanov, only about 200 people are discontent out of 1000 workers employed at the construction site. Earlier, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and New Technology and Vice Prime Minister Asset Issekeshev said that the grad Abu Dhabi Plaza project was estimated at $1.6 billion. The project is funded by investors from the UAE. According to His Excellency Mr. Abubaker Seddiq Al Khoori, Chairman of the Board at Aldar Properties PJSC, the construction works this year will employ about 7000 people working on two shifts. Currently, about 1000 are employed at the construction site.

By Assemgul Kassenova

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