Ten years after Zhanaozen, Kazakh unions still under pressure 16 December, 202116 December marks the ten-year anniversary of the tragedy in Zhanaozen, Kazakhstan, where police opened fire on protestors, killing 17 and injuring more than 100 workers. The violence ended a seven-month long strike, involving more than 3,000 workers demanding a wage increase.
Kazakhstan must respect union rights15 June, 2021For the fourth time, union rights violations in Kazakhstan were in focus at the ILO Committee on the Application of Standards during the International Labour Conference.
CIS unions demand improved health and safety in mines25 May, 2021When 60 participants from ten mining unions in seven CIS countries met on 20 May, the need for ratification and proper implementation of ILO Convention 176 on health and safety in mines was discussed.
Kazakhstan must stop attacks on unions4 February, 2021Another independent union is under threat in Kazakhstan, a country notorious for its anti-union policies and persecution of union leaders. Sign our LabourStart campaign to demand an immediate end to the pressure on unions in Kazakhstan.
Kazakh union leader Erlan Baltabay released23 March, 2020On 20 March, Erlan Baltabay, leader of the Independent Oil and Energy Workers’ Union in Kazakhstan, was released from prison.
Kazakh leader remains in custody on politically motivated charges19 December, 2019On 3 December, the Shymkent court of Kazakhstan rejected the appeal of Erlan Baltabay, a former chairperson of Energy and Oil Workers Union "Decent Work" who was sentenced in June 2019 to seven years in jail on politically motivated charges never proven in court.
Kazakh union leader Erlan Baltabay imprisoned again1 November, 2019IndustriALL Global Union and the ITUC are calling for the release of Erlan Baltabay, a leader of the Independent Oil and Energy Workers’ Union in Kazakhstan, who has been returned to prison to serve a new 5-month term.
Kazakh union leader freed12 August, 2019Through a special pardoning decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Erlan Baltabay, leader of the independent oil and gas workers’ union and vice-president of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Kazakhstan (KNPRK), was released from custody on 10 August.
IndustriALL calls for release of Kazakh trade union leader 24 July, 2019IndustriALL Global Union is calling for the immediate release of Kazakh trade union leader, Erlan Baltabay, after he was sentenced to seven years in prison by a Kazakh court on 17 July.
Kazakh trade union leader faces 8 years in jail1 July, 2019IndustriALL Global Union has called on the president of Kazakhstan to intervene in the trial of Erlan Baltabay, a prominent trade union leader who is facing eight years in a jail and lifetime ban on holding a union position. The court is due to give its verdict any day.
