Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Nurken Sharbiev provided data on the current salaries of employees of Semey Ormany. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
Three years ago, a massive fire broke out in the Semey Ormany area, resulting in the deaths of 14 foresters. After this tragic event, issues of outdated equipment and low salaries were raised.
According to the Vice Minister, over the past three years, more than two thousand pieces of equipment have been purchased for forestry enterprises. In addition, employee salaries have increased.
Specifically, specialists involved in forest fire suppression received a 100% salary supplement. "For example, a fire truck driver receives an average of 275,000 tenge depending on length of service. The head of a fire station receives 355,000 tenge, and a forest firefighter receives an average of 250,000 tenge," Sharbiev said at a briefing in the government.
According to him, the salaries of state inspectors in forestry are even higher. "The salaries of administrative staff, including accountants and economists, have not changed. They receive 150–160 thousand tenge. Also, the salaries of seasonal workers have not been increased. However, the Semey Ormany institution provides additional payments from saved funds," the Vice Minister noted.
It is worth noting that last year, responsible officials were convicted in connection with the fire in the Semey Ormany reserve.