Kosovars in Kazakhstan complain of salary delays

Representatives of the company owned by former Kosovo president Behgjet Pacolli deny these claims, saying there is never a serious “ ” in payments.

Workers Who Talk About REL under anonymity also complains about working conditions in this company from, as they say, strict rules to food served.

The Mabetex company was founded in Switzerland in 1999 and has been engaged in construction and renovations in several countries around the world. It has subsidiarys in 18 countries and some 14,000 workers.

In the context of Mabetex, there are about 2,000 citizens of Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia working in different cities of this country.

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One of them is Egzoni whose true identity is known for the editing.

He says his salary has been delayed for five months. These revenues, he says, are extremely important for the 4-member family in Kosovo.

“Pak is difficult... Until I get my paychecks, my parent is forced to get some money, or take a small loan, or something like this...”, Egzon says.

Winter, according to him, makes this situation even more difficult, as “should be purchased for heating and other things”.

Egzon works in Mabetex for more than a year, but says it is difficult for him and his colleagues to voice their rights.

“The workers are afraid, because we're with salaries inside. If we get up and do something, he [the company] condemns us with those salaries and doesn't give us the money at least”, says Egzon, a 20s worker.

Kosovar workers in Kazakhstan receive part of their salary there, while the rest take the largest part in Kosovo.

According to workers who talk about the REL, the delay has occurred in the means they must appear in Kosovo. They're paid six euros per hour.

Mabethex: Monthly Salaries Come Up Without Delay

Valon Luka, representative of Mabetex Company, denies this delay.

“Kosovar workers working at the Mabetex Group subsidiarys in Kazakhstan, now more than 25 years, receive their monthly salary regularly, without delay, as well as another portion paid every three months in their” accounts, Luka says.

He adds that in certain cases “may have some delay due to the nature of work”, but, as he says, “does not happen that [the workers] do not get paid or that there be serious delays”.

Kastriot, another Mabetex worker in Kazakhstan, says his salary has been delayed and that no one has explained to him.

“ [We're told] that's how it is here, if you like it well, if you don't like it, the way of di”, says 25-year-old.

He says the problem with wages and others has moved him to think about going home.

“I have planned to postpone it until summer and walk to Kosovo”, he says.

Workers also complain of a lack of employment contract.

“We have requested the contract, but have said the contract is in Kosovo. I in Kosovo have not received any contracts, I have not signed a” contract, Egzoni says.

Symptoms for strict rules and food

Workers, on the other hand, also complain about strict rules regarding phone use.

Once they get into their workplace, they have to hand over the phone and they don't have access to it until the schedule is complete.

According to Epaphroditus, phones are often not allowed even during lunch break, and this frightens them because they cannot contact their family even in emergencies while they are at work.

Many workers risk getting their phones in black and put them in. If you're caught putting your phone in, you're automatically sentenced to $100 to $500,”, Egzon says.

He himself shows that he was convicted once after making an effort to take the phone with him.

From Mabetex, they say that the use of phones is not restricted anywhere, but “at the construction site, where we have increased safety care at work and in sensitive nature places”.

Every serious company or corporation has its own work rules for its employees. Workers, at the moment of employment, agree on those rules after they are communicated, rules that then have to respect”, say Mabetex.

Another discontent of workers is related to food.

You can't generally eat that food... You eat the food, you eat the shit. We have a big problem with that, not just me, but many workers have complained”, Egzon says.

The food that is served “is a disaster”, Kastriot says.

But this complaint, according to Mabetex, is unprecedented.

Subservation at every construction site is high standards by professional cooks... and has been witnessed from the very beginning by the workers themselves. It's strange and the first time we have this information, that workers, supposedly, are not satisfied with the quality of food”, it says in Mabetex's statement.

In recent years, many Kosovars have managed to obtain jobs in Kazakhstan mainly through the Mabetex Group company.

In Kazakhstan's capital, Asana, the company of Behgjet Pacolli, Mabetex, has designed and built several objects: Parliament's, the Presidential Palace, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Foreign Ministry, then state residence, sports centres, cultural and other objects.

In January of this year, Kazakhstan has faced a wave of massive protests that have erupted as a result of rising fuel prices, but quickly turned into massive anti-government organisation.

In that period, Kazakh authorities have stopped the internet and restricted phone operations for five days. Even Kosovars living in Kazakhstan have been affected by this break. / REL/