Statement Eurasian Bureau of the World Federation of Trade Unions on persecution Union activists in Kazakhstan

Statement

Eurasian Bureau of the World Federation of Trade Unions on persecution

Union activists in Kazakhstan and violations of workers’ rights to association

The Eurasian Bureau of the World Federation of Trade Unions notes the increasing repression and persecution of workers of independent trade unions of Kazakhstan, against whom criminal cases are fabricated, and local authorities and employers prevent them from creating their primary organizations, refusing registration and intimidating workers. The Bureau is also concerned about the arrests of ordinary workers and unemployed people in Zhanaozen, who advocate for decent jobs and higher wages for all residents.

The Bureau receives information about the campaign of harassment launched by employers and local authorities against activists of the branch trade Union of workers of the fuel and energy complex in the Mangystau region, trying to create primary trade Union organizations in the enterprises of oil companies. These actions are aimed at the complete elimination of the industry Association and all real independent trade unions in the country.

The Eurasian Bureau of the WFTU protests the flagrant violations of the rights of workers of Kazakhstan to establish their associations, to hold meetings and to hold strikes and to put forward socio-economic demands and insists on:

— Immediate release of all arrested workers and unemployed in Zhanaozen and termination of criminal cases  for «inciting social discord»;

— Immediate termination of the criminal case against the head of the trade Union «For Decent Work» Erlan Baltabai and Chairman of the Mangistau regional branch of the NGO «Sectoral trade Union of workers of the fuel and energy complex» Kuspan Kosshegulov;

— Investigation into the attack and brutal beating by unknown persons on the Chairman of the Karaganda regional branch of the NGO «Branch trade Union of workers of the fuel and energy complex» Dmitry Sinyavsky;

— Granting the right to registration and legal activity to the primary organizations of «Branch trade Union of workers of fuel and energy complex» at the enterprises of oil-producing companies;

— The cancellation of illegal decisions of the courts on the elimination of East-Kazakhstan regional trade Union «Defence of Labour», dozens of trade unions of Kostanay region of the Union «Oil Construction Company», the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan and many other associations;

— Amending the trade unions act and the Labour Code in accordance with the ILO recommendations on the rights of workers to form associations and to strike.

 

Chairman

Eugene Kulikov