Kazakhstan, Astana, Jan. 17 / Trend L. Podolyak /
Kazakh KazMunayGas's subsidiary, KazMunaiGas Exploration Production has registered two companies in the Mangistau region. Previously oil industry workers there were dismissed, the company head Alik Aidarbayev told media today.
One of the companies,' Technological transport and well service department' was registered in the city of Aktau. It will deal with oil industry workers dismissed in Karazhanbasmunai. The other, 'Drilling and well service department' was opened in Zhanaozen. It will start hiring Ozenmunaygaz former employees.
The companies have not begun work yet. Mr Aydarbaev said that there are about 1710 people from the oil industry workers dismissed for an illegal strike.
"We have corrected the budget," he said. "All the people will work soon. However not everyone will be able to work at his specialty, but we will teach some of them on courses taking into account their desire, skills, abilities." Moreover, there will be canteens and other social facilities nearby.
The oil companies' employees went on strike to demand higher wages in the Mangistau region. A court found the strike illegal. The companies dismissed several thousand employees.
Discontent amongst the workers resulted in the riots at Zhanaozen on December 16, which killed 16 people and injured over 100. A state of emergency was introduced. It was extended until January 31 last year. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev issued an order to deal with the problem of dismissed workers and to take measures for their employment as soon as possible.
KazMunaiGas Exploration Production board of directors decided to create two new transport and drilling companies with a total staff of more than 2000 to employ the dismissed oil industry workers. They will render services to KazMunaiGas Exploration Production and other companies working in Mangistau region.
The company has allocated 20 billion tenge (more than $134 million).