OREANDA-NEWS. April 16, 2008. TengizChevroil will bring its labor relations principles in line with the Kazakhstan’s labor legislation, assured Todd Levy, TengizChevroil chief executive, when meeting Kazakhstan’s Labor Minister Berdibek Saparbayev in Astana, reported the Official website http://en.government.kz.

The Minister noted that in accordance with the Kazakhstan’s Labor Code, employer shall sign collective labor agreements or individual employment contracts with its employees. Hiring contracts is a thing of the past. Berdibek Saparbayev reminded that the law prescribes a vacation of no less than 24 working days, which shall not include time-off in-between rotations in case of rotating schemes.

At the same time the Minister lauded the fact that TengizChevroil’s pays its employees very high salaries (more than KZT 300 thousand per month), which is almost 6 times more than Kazakhstan’s average wages (about KZT 54 thousand). The company attaches great attention to social support of its employees and to implementation of social projects in Atyrau region.

Besides, employees whose cooperation with the company is drawing to conclusion because of completion of the first stage of the project and launch of the second phase will receive bonuses, TengizChevroil Director General said. According to the company’s head, a pilot data base of all experts and subcontractors has been created, and it will be used to assist those employees finishing their cooperation with the company in finding new jobs.

The Minister called TengizChevroil top management to pay close attention to ensuring employment of highly qualified expects in oil and gas sector. In the opinion of Mr. Levy significant part of TengizChevroil’s ex-employees could be attached to Agip’s similar large projects at Kashagan. While a part of these employees will be use in other TengizChevroil’s projects.

Mr. Levy assured that TengizChevroil will joint the Agreement between the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan and socially-oriented business structures operating in the country that consists in promotion of principles of the UN Global agreement in the realm of social-and-labor relations and defines principle indicators of internal and external social responsibly of the businesses.

The Agreement was signed this January in Zhezkazgan at the first Forum for Social Responsibilities of Businesses held with participation of the President.

Minister noted that there is an opportunity for large companies operating in Kazakhstan to participate in aiding victims of floods in Southern Kazakhstan. Mr. Levy promised to Mr. Saparbayev that TengizChevroil will make its contribution into aiding the victims.