Zabudova company workers complain about delayed salaries

Workers stopped to receive payment on time in 2013.

Charter97.org has learnt it from the press service of the organising committee to create the Belarusian Christian Democracy party (BCD) that received a letter from angry workers of OAO Holding Company of Zabudova Group of Companies.

“They haven't paid us salary on time for many months (since November 2013). Under our employment agreements, we are supposed to receive our salary on the 25th day of a month. But we usually get a small sum (from 500,000 to 1,000,000 rubles) or do not receive money at all. The remaining part of the salary is paid in small portions during some days or weeks. We tried to talk to the employer, but it was in vain – the director doesn't talk to workers. The trade union is unable to do anything. The chairperson of the trade union committee says the director ignores her,” the company's employees write.

They note the company didn't raise wages for more than a year.

“One more problem. According to the National Statistics Committee, the nominal average salary in Belarus in June 2014 increased 2.4%, or 142,600 rubes against May 2014.

But wages for our workers have not been raised for more than a year. In the dollar terms, workers lost from 70 to 100 dollars in comparison with the same period last year. We asked the employer orally to raise salaries, but heard in response: 'It's enough for you.' The company toughened the so called 'systems of fines'. They can deprive an employee of bonuses even if he or she is late if the bus that takes workers to the plant is behind the schedule. The bus is hired by OAO Holding Company of Zabudova Group of Companies in Maladzechna. Managers ignore workers' arguments for being late because the bus was late,” workers complain.

Zabudova's deputy general director for ideology, social development and agrarian affairs Henrykh Kutas told charter97.org that workers do not receive wages due to the company's financial problems.

“We delay salaries for a few days due to financial problems. Salaries for the last month were paid in full. I think complaints about the director have no grounds. The new director didn't miss a single meeting with the workers. He and the chief engineer start their work at the plant on 7:30,” he said.