Residents of Kokshetau faced public transport disruptions on the morning of July 16 as bus drivers refused to go on routes, citing low wages and regular payment delays. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
According to the drivers, their salary is about 200,000 tenge, and vacation pay, in their opinion, does not correspond to the volume of work performed.
"Our demand is that the salary be worthy of our work," one driver said.
The bus depot management explained that drivers' and conductors' salaries were delayed by about a week because the akimat (local administration) did not transfer subsidies on time. These funds are used for salary payments and taxes. The company's own income, according to management, is only enough to purchase spare parts and diesel fuel.
After employees refused to go on the line, local authorities promised to transfer subsidies within the day to fully pay the staff.
However, the issue of salary increases remains open. The akimat said it would study the possibility of increasing funding for the bus depot by July 21.
General Director of the bus depot Oleg Agoyev said he understands the employees' dissatisfaction.
"On the 10th, I waited until 5 p.m. for subsidies to arrive, telling everyone: 'We wait, we wait, we wait,' but they never came. So this small explosion happened – emotional," Agoyev said.