Enter Engineering in spotlight over workers' salary complaints and site accidents

Social media was abuzz with news of a protest at the Enter Engineering company due to unpaid wages at the construction of the copper enrichment factory, which is part of the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine.

According to Gazeta.uz, they have received a video showing numerous workers gathered in the streets, expressing their dissatisfaction with the delays in salary payments. In the message sent to the editorial office, it was stated that the workers demanded wages for the months of January, February, and March.

Enter Engineering provided an explanation for the situation.

"The employees' salaries are directly dependent on the successful justification of the volume of work executed before the client. Therefore, currently, the salaries for February have been fully paid out," the message said.

It has been stated that currently, the process for approving the volumes for March is ongoing, following which the full wages will be paid out.

"There is an established order in which firstly, the volume of work carried out at construction sites in the previous month must be approved before the client. These verified volumes serve as the basis for wage calculations. Later, tax calculations and the submission of reports occur, as well as the disbursement of the full salaries to the employees. All these processes take time," the company explained.

According to Enter Engineering’s clarification, the process of paying salaries for the month of March is in progress. This is primarily linked to the unique character of construction works, which require inspection by the construction company itself, quality control services, and the client’s independent technical supervision services.

The company said the videos circulating on social networks are considered to be fake videos from three years ago. The organization also reassured that it has fulfilled all its obligations towards both the clients and its employees.

It should be reminded that in the fall of 2020, workers at the GTL plant construction site in Kashkadarya expressed their discontent. They complained about delayed salaries, quarantine measures, queues at canteens, and the lack of transparency in personnel decisions. Both the employer and officials promised to resolve their complaints. Later, it was revealed that some workers were criminally charged in connection with a "pogrom" that caused total damages to the company's property amounting to 480 million UZS.

In February 2024, a roof collapsed at the construction site of the AMMC copper enrichment factory, trapping workers underneath. Three Indian nationals were killed, and 29 people were injured.

According to a Gazeta.uz source, this was not the first accident during the construction of the facility. Received videos (available at the editorial office) show workers getting injured on the construction site during working hours. Some of these incidents occur due to the workers' fault, but according to the source, their failure to adhere to safety rules is also related to the inadequate provision of lifting equipment, transport means for carrying loads, and personal protective equipment. Furthermore, the source claims that the workers have not received their salaries for four months.

According to the Labor Code of Uzbekistan, the frequency of wage payments to employees should not be less than once every half month. Timeliness of payment and the amount of wages cannot depend on other payments and their order of disbursement.

Moreover, regardless of the financial situation of the employer, it is mandatory to pay for the work as per the law and conditions specified in the labor contract.