Servicemen of press agency “Kazinform” have sent open letter to President of Kazakhstan

August 05, 2011

On August 05, 2011 journalists of press agency “Kazinform” have sent a open letter to President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. They asked him to solve a problem, relating to financial matters in the organization.

Press agency “Kazinform” had tax liabilities. Tax inspection has arrested banking accounts of press agency within two last years in connection with continuing lawsuit between joint-stock company “Kazinform” and tax inspection. There were regular accrued arrears of wage.

Servicemen of press agency“Kazinform” could not draw a salary within three months. The website of the government of the Republic of Kazakhstanhttp://www.government.kz, has not been renewed from July 28, 2011. It has been in the structure of national press agency “Kazinform”.

On June 15, 2011 servicemen of press agency have gone on a strike. They did no draw a salary for May, 2011. Servicemen of press agency have sent a open letter to Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov on June 21, 2011. The account of press agency has been arrested from debts; accrued arrears of wage.

On June 23, 2011 strikers said that they drew a salary for May. They called off a strike.

Servicemen of press agency “Kazinform” said that they had problems with the delay of salary annually. For example, at the end of February of 2010 servicemen of press agency “Kazinform” have placed a letter, relating to regular arrears of wage on blog of Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov. In June of 2010 they have gone on a strike. Servicemen of press agency “Kazinform” did not draw a salary within three months.

Press agency “Kazinform” is an old state news agency in Kazakhstan. It has become a continuer of Orenburg and Turgay branch of RTA. Russian Telegraph Agency was found in 1920 and renamed to KazTA in 1937. In September 1997, the agency was renamed to republican press agency KazPA. From November of 2002 it had a status of national company and a name “Kazinform”.