600 Filipino workers in Kazakhstan moved to safer areas

Some 600 Filipino workers of an oil drilling project in Kazakhstan are being moved to safer areas following a violent clash between Kazak and Turkish workers there over labor problems, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

"The Filipinos are being transferred to a safer area and are being kept in a safe place," DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya said.

The DFA said the Filipino workers’ recruiter in Manila, International Skills Development, reported that no Filipinos were hurt at the work site in Tengiz during the riots that left at least 40 dead and many more injured.

"No Filipinos were hurt in that incident. They were not involved and affected by the unrest," Malaya said. He said the dispute is only between the Kazaks and Turks over differences in pay and benefits.

The drilling site is a project by United States-based construction firm Bechtel and Turkish firm Enka.

"This is an issue involving the Turkish and Kazak workers. The Filipinos have not been involved and affected by the labor unrest," he added.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo has instructed Philippine Ambassador to Pakistan Jaime Yambao to coordinate with Bechtel and the Kazak government to secure the safety of the Filipinos and proceed to the work site if necessary.

The Philippine Embassy in Pakistan, which has jurisdiction over Kazakhstan, reported to the DFA that the Filipino workers are now being moved to a secure place away from the warring groups of laborers.

"No work is going on at present (at the site) but our overseas nationals are safe and secure," Malaya said.

He noted that the Kazak government has deployed 75 security personnel, the numbers of whom are expected to increase.

The Filipinos are working on the oil drilling project as electricians, pipe fitters, welders and other construction and technical jobs.

The recruitment agency has set up a 24-hour call center for the families and other relatives of the workers. The OFWs’ family members and relatives may call 550-10-36 for more information.

The local recruiter said Bechtel also contacted the agency and assured that it is ready to move the Filipino workers out of harm’s way and will shoulder all the costs this involves.

Meanwhile, New Caledonian President Marie-Noelle Themerau has assured the Philippines of its support for OFWs working at a nickel and cobalt processing plant amid recent protest actions that affected the island-territory, the DFA reported.

The DFA said Themerau has written the Philippine government and said she was apologetic and assuring in her tone in addressing the recent comments made by some New Caledonian labor groups who called for the expulsion of OFWs employed there through an industrial action that began in the last week of September.