Striking Kazakh copper miners refuse to surface, post photo on Facebook

By bne IntelliNews December 1, 2017

Dozens of striking copper miners demanding wage hikes in Kazakhstan's Qaraghandy region are refusing to return to the surface, RFE/RL reported on November 30, citing activists from a labour advocacy organisation in the city of Zhezqazghan. The miners have been underground in the mine since November 29.

The miners are reportedly demanding a meeting with Eduard Ogai, chief executive of the mine owner, Kazakh copper giant KazakhMys. Activists posted a photograph on Facebook of the miners along with their list of demands on a sheet of paper.

The list specifies a 70% salary raise, better pensions as well as free access to education and holiday resorts, along with other demands.

Following labour strikes in the oil town of Zhanaozen in western Kazakhstan, which ended in clashes that killed at least a dozen people in December 2011, the government promised to improve labour relations and “modernise trade union institutions”.

Human Rights Watch argued last November that instead of introducing the promised changes, the Kazakh authorities imposed burdensome registration requirements on trade unions as well as requirements for mandatory affiliation with higher-tier unions that stand at “stark odds with internationally protected workers’ rights” that allow employees to freely organise.

Read in IntelliNews Pro
Get IntelliNews Pro

Related Articles

Kazakhstan dispatches unprecedented water volumes to "shrinking" Caspian Sea

Kazakhstan has dispatched an unprecedented 16.7 cubic kilometres of water to the Caspian Sea via the Zhaiyk River in the year to date, compared to the long-term annual average of 9.46 cubic ... more

Uzbekistan records 9.6% gain in tourist arrivals, welcomes 2.8mn visitors in 5M24

Uzbekistan welcomed 2.8mn foreign tourists from January to May, marking a 9.6% y/y increase, ... more

Uzbekistan's 5M24 foreign trade up 3% to $26.7bn, deficit stands at $5bn

Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover reached $26.7bn in 5M24 on a 3.0% y/y expansion, the Statistics Agency of Uzbekistan has ... more

Follow Us On

Most Read

  1. Russia’s economy is tougher than it looks, no chance of a crisis in the next 3-5 years – CASE
    10 days ago
  2. Russia ready to start peace talks in January, willing to make some “limited” concessions
    3 days ago
  3. G20 summit wraps up with a joint statement strong on sentiment, but short on specifics
    5 days ago
  4. North Korea ready to send 100,000 troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine
    6 days ago
  5. US forces to fully withdraw from Iraq, “including Kurdistan”
    6 days ago
  1. What would a Trump win mean for Latin America?
    19 days ago
  2. LONG READ: Georgian Dream’s hold over rural areas won it the election
    21 days ago
  3. Mass protest in Serbia’s Novi Sad over deadly station canopy collapse turns violent
    18 days ago
  4. Russia overtakes Japan to become the fourth largest economy in the world in PPP terms
    5 months ago
  5. Elon Musk's Starlink is turning the tide of the Ukraine War in favour of Russia
    1 month ago

Reports

Dismiss