Over 2,000 workers injured in factory accidents every year in Kazakhstan

©Tengrinews.kz

Occupational morbidity rate is growing in Kazakhstan, Tengrinews reports citing the Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Kazakhstan Tamara Duisenova. "A large portion of jobs in Kazakhstan involve harmful or hazardous labor conditions. More than 2 thousand workers a year are injured in accidents at plants and factories and the rate of occupational morbidity is going up. The situation in East Kazakhstan, Karaganda and Kostanay Oblasts is especially worrisome, because the or accident is the highest here this year," Duisenova said at a Labor Ministry meeting. These three oblasts are home to the largest part of Kazakhstan's factories specialising in non-ferrous metallurgy and iron smelting, mechanical engineering, metalworking, chemical industry, mining and woodworking. According to the Minister, owners of the factories are incurring losses because of the hazardous conditions at their plants. Annual amount of compensations for harmful labor conditions exceeds 70 billion tenge ($380 million). "To change the situation for the better, the plants should work to prevent accidents, instead of focusing on resolving their consequences. To move things forward we launched a basic legal training course for workers last year. We have already covered more than 80 thousand workers from more than 1 thousand mid-sized and large plants. Our social partners are participating in the project together with us this year," she added. By Altynai Zhumzhumina

Occupational morbidity rate is growing in Kazakhstan, Tengrinews reports citing the Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Kazakhstan Tamara Duisenova. "A large portion of jobs in Kazakhstan involve harmful or hazardous labor conditions. More than 2 thousand workers a year are injured in accidents at plants and factories and the rate of occupational morbidity is going up. The situation in East Kazakhstan, Karaganda and Kostanay Oblasts is especially worrisome, because the or accident is the highest here this year," Duisenova said at a Labor Ministry meeting. These three oblasts are home to the largest part of Kazakhstan's factories specialising in non-ferrous metallurgy and iron smelting, mechanical engineering, metalworking, chemical industry, mining and woodworking. According to the Minister, owners of the factories are incurring losses because of the hazardous conditions at their plants. Annual amount of compensations for harmful labor conditions exceeds 70 billion tenge ($380 million). "To change the situation for the better, the plants should work to prevent accidents, instead of focusing on resolving their consequences. To move things forward we launched a basic legal training course for workers last year. We have already covered more than 80 thousand workers from more than 1 thousand mid-sized and large plants. Our social partners are participating in the project together with us this year," she added. By Altynai Zhumzhumina

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