Astrakhan Employer Leaves Uzbek Migrants Unpaid for 8 Months
Title: Employer Deceives 36 Uzbek Citizens, Leaves Them Without Promised Wages
Introduction:
A recent incident involving the mistreatment of 36 Uzbek citizens by their employer has come to light in the Kamyzyak district of the Astrakhan Oblast in Russia. The employer, identified only as E.A., deceived the workers by promising to pay their wages at the end of the working season. However, upon buying tickets for the workers’ return to Uzbekistan, the employer failed to fulfill his promise, leaving the workers unpaid. This article will provide details of the incident and the assistance being provided to the victims by the External Labor Migration Agency (ELMA) in Volgograd.
The Deception:
According to a report from the ELMA representative in Volgograd, Sh. Kattakhonov, the 36 citizens from Uzbekistan submitted an appeal for help on October 14. It was discovered during the investigation that the employer E.A. had not paid the workers’ wages for a period of 6 to 8 months, assuring them that the payment would be made at the end of the working season.
Further Details:
Believing his promise, the workers were given train tickets to Uzbekistan for October 14. Before their departure, E.A. assured the workers that he would withdraw the cash from nearby ATMs at the Aksaray station and pay them in full. However, when the workers arrived at the railway station on October 13, the employer was nowhere to be found.
Taking Action:
The ELMA representatives in Volgograd immediately took action to assist the victims. On October 16, they travelled to the Astrakhan Oblast to meet the workers and discuss the situation. During the meeting, it was revealed that the employer had subjected the workers to long working hours, forcing them to work for 11 hours a day, seven days a week. Furthermore, the workers themselves had built the necessary infrastructure, including living barracks and a greenhouse, at the employer’s request.
Analysis and Legal Actions:
Investigation also uncovered that the employment contracts had stated a monthly salary of 8,500 rubles for the workers. It was discovered that 19 workers had expired documents, such as patents and temporary registration, while the remaining 17 workers’ documents were set to expire on October 20.
During a telephone conversation with the employer, he denied owing any money to the Uzbek workers and claimed that all wages were paid as scheduled. However, further examination of the workers’ bank card history revealed that the funds were transferred from another source and were not recorded as wages.
ELMA employees arranged a meeting with the prosecutor of the Kamyzyak district, A. Glukhovsky, who pledged to provide assistance to the Uzbek workers. Additionally, a lawyer was consulted, and statements were filed with various authorities, including the prosecutor of the Astrakhan region, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Labor Inspectorate, and the human rights representative for the Astrakhan region.
Financial Assistance and Resolution:
In accordance with Resolution No. 725 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, applications were collected from the affected citizens to provide unified financial assistance. This aid aims to support the workers and purchase air tickets for their return to Uzbekistan.
Conclusion:
The deception and mistreatment of 36 Uzbek citizens by their employer in Russia’s Astrakhan Oblast have been exposed. While the victims have been left without their promised wages, the ELMA agency in Volgograd, along with local authorities, is actively working to provide assistance and seek justice for the affected workers.
