• KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09156 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09156 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09156 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09156 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09156 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09156 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09156 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09156 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
19 February 2025

Viewing results 7 - 12 of 9257

Kyrgyz Labor Migrants Confront Challenges in Europe

The Center for Employment of Kyrgyz Citizens Abroad has announced the launch of online registration for seasonal agricultural work in the United Kingdom. Alongside migration to Russia, Europe remains one of the most popular destinations for Kyrgyz workers. Tens of thousands of citizens seek employment in Europe, Turkey, and South Korea. However, despite the widely advertised benefits of working abroad, many migrants face significant challenges. According to the state portal migrant.kg, wages for seasonal agricultural work in the UK are set at £11.50 per hour, with a guaranteed minimum of 32 hours per week. Applicants must meet certain conditions, including being in satisfactory physical and psychological health and having at least a basic knowledge of Russian. The Kyrgyz government assures job seekers that employment under state-brokered contracts is free of charge and, most importantly, safe. Migrants are only required to cover the costs of their visa, insurance, and airfare. The Kyrgyz Ministry of Labor, Social Development, and Migration has previously signed agreements on labor migration with companies in the UK, Italy, and Slovakia, as well as with employers in South Korea. In addition to government initiatives, private agencies also facilitate job placements for Kyrgyz citizens abroad. The Times of Central Asia spoke with Rakhim Mirzyaev, a former labor migrant, about his experiences working in the European Union. “In general, Kyrgyz citizens are readily accepted in most EU countries. I worked in Poland for six months at a car parts factory, then moved to the Netherlands for agricultural work. Many people don’t realize it, but this type of labor can be brutal,” Mirzyaev told TCA. The cost of obtaining a visa, insurance, and airfare for his job in Poland totaled $750. “At the factory in Poland, we were paid hourly, only about $5 per hour. An inspector monitored our work every hour. Local regulations required us to meet specific production targets. If you failed to meet the quota, you were first fined, and then, if it continued, you could be fired,” he explained. According to Kyrgyz migrants, inflation has made it increasingly difficult to live and work in Europe. Rising food and housing costs leave little room for savings. Unlike international students, migrant workers receive no financial benefits or subsidies. Nutrition was another major challenge. Mirzyaev noted that adjusting to inexpensive European food was difficult for those accustomed to traditional Central Asian cuisine. “We mostly ate pasta because it was the cheapest option. If we spent money on better food, we wouldn’t be able to save anything to send home. I lost 20 kilograms in six months working at the factory in Poland,” he said. Many Kyrgyz migrants exchange job opportunities and experiences through online messaging groups. It was in one such group that Mirzyaev and a friend found an unofficial job opening in the Netherlands. However, without an official work permit, they faced even greater difficulties. “But in the Netherlands, we didn’t pass the probation period and were fired after three days. The job required us to work on a...

Turkmenistan Ranked Worst in Central Asia in 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index

Turkmenistan has once again ranked among the world's most corrupt countries, placing last in Central Asia in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2024.  According to the index, Turkmenistan ranked 165th out of 180 countries, scoring 17 out of 100 points. This marks a decline from the previous year, when the country scored 18 points and was ranked 170th.  Among other Central Asian nations, Tajikistan ranked 164th with 19 points, while Kyrgyzstan placed 146th with 25 points. Uzbekistan ranked 121st with 32 points, and Kazakhstan was the highest-ranked in the region at 88th place with 40 points. Russia, with 22 points, was ranked 154th.  The report highlights that authoritarianism and weak judicial systems remain key drivers of corruption in Central Asia. Denmark, Finland, Singapore, New Zealand, and Luxembourg topped the index as the least corrupt countries. Meanwhile, Yemen, Syria, Venezuela, Somalia, and South Sudan were ranked among the most corrupt, with South Sudan finishing last at 180th place. Transparency International warns that corruption remains a significant global threat, even in efforts to combat climate change. According to the organization, corrupt practices hinder emissions reductions, slow adaptation to climate change, and severely impact sustainable development. "While 32 countries have significantly reduced corruption since 2012, in 148 nations the situation has either remained unchanged or worsened. The global average remains at 43 points, and more than two-thirds of countries score below 50. As a result, billions of people continue to live in environments where corruption undermines their rights and quality of life," Transparency International stated in its report.

Seven Killed in Kazakhstan’s Latest Mining Tragedy

A rock collapse at the Zhomart mine in Kazakhstan’s Ulytau region has claimed the lives of seven miners, the press service of Kazakhmys, the mine’s owner, reported. The workers were trapped under the rubble, with preliminary findings suggesting a natural gas explosion as the cause. The incident occurred on Monday at the Zhomart mine, located 180 kilometers from Zhezkazgan, the administrative center of Ulytau region. The mine extracts copper-sulfide ore at a depth of 700 meters using underground mining methods, with an annual production capacity of 3.6 million tons of ore. Rescue efforts began immediately after the collapse, with more than 20 rescuers, seven units of specialized equipment, and canine teams deployed to the site. However, due to damaged communication cables, there was no contact with the trapped miners. By Tuesday morning, all seven bodies had been recovered and brought to the surface. Kazakhmys stated that while a natural gas explosion is uncharacteristic for its mines, it remains a possible cause of the collapse. “According to preliminary data, there was an explosion of natural gas, which is unusual for Kazakhmys Corporation’s mines. The circumstances and causes of the incident are being investigated,” the company said in a statement. The company has pledged financial support to the victims’ families, offering compensation amounting to ten times the employees’ average annual earnings, along with an additional 2 million tenge to cover funeral expenses. Following the incident, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov ordered the creation of a government commission to investigate the causes of the collapse. The commission is led by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and instructed the government to conduct a thorough investigation. He also directed regional authorities and specialized agencies to provide full support to the victims’ families. This marks the second fatal accident at a Kazakhmys facility this year. In January, a worker died at the company’s East Zhezkazgan mine, and in October 2023, a carbon monoxide leak at the Sayak-3 mine resulted in the deaths of two miners who were not evacuated in time. Kazakhstan’s deadliest mining accidents, however, have been linked to ArcelorMittal Temirtau (AMT). The worst industrial disaster in the country’s post-independence history occurred on October 28, 2023, at the Kostenko mine, then owned by AMT. A fire and subsequent explosion at a depth of 700 meters resulted in the deaths of 46 miners. At the time of the accident, between 227 and 252 workers were underground, with 208 successfully evacuated. On Monday, Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General Berik Asylov announced the completion of the investigation into the Kostenko disaster, with ten individuals facing trial under Article 277 of the Criminal Code for violating mining safety regulations. Investigators determined that the fire and explosion were caused by a mechanical spark igniting methane gas. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, the Kostenko mine tragedy led to a shift in ownership of key coal and metallurgical assets in the Karaganda region. Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal was replaced by...

Drone Attack on Caspian Pipeline Consortium Station: Implications for Kazakhstan

On February 17, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) reported a drone attack on the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station in Russia's Krasnodar region.  According to an official CPC statement, the attack involved seven drones armed with explosives and metal shrapnel. The strikes occurred at intervals, which, according to experts, suggests an intent not only to disable the facility but also to endanger personnel. Despite this, no casualties were reported. Quick action by CPC employees prevented an oil spill, though the station was taken out of operation. A commission led by CPC General Director Nikolay Gorban arrived at the site to assess the damage and determine a timeline for repairs. Currently, oil transportation along the Tengiz-Novorossiysk pipeline is operating at reduced capacity, bypassing the Kropotkinskaya station. CPC’s international shareholders, including companies from the United States and Europe, have been informed of the attack and its consequences. Temur Umarov, a researcher at the Carnegie Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies in Berlin, commented on the incident via his Telegram channel, noting that Ukraine had previously avoided targeting CPC infrastructure in Russia to avoid harming Kazakhstan and its Western partners, such as Chevron, Shell, ExxonMobil, and Eni. However, he said this latest attack underscores Kazakhstan's vulnerability, as the country relies on the CPC pipeline for 80% of its oil exports. "Whatever the consequences and reactions to this episode, it reminds Kazakhstan once again of its deep dependence on the CPC pipeline; through it, Astana can be pressured both by Russia and, as we now see, by others," Umarov wrote. The Kropotkinskaya station is the largest CPC oil pumping facility in Russia, located in Krasnodar Krai. However, according to the TCA, no Kazakh oil passes through this station. This is not the first time drones, presumably Ukrainian, have targeted infrastructure related to Kazakh oil exports via Russian territory. In December 2023, drones struck a loading point of the Druzhba pipeline in Russia’s Bryansk region, a key route for Kazakh oil exports to Europe. 

Chinese Company to Invest Over $12 Billion in Kazakhstan’s Non-Ferrous Metals Sector

China’s East Hope Group (EHG), a global leader in aluminum and silicon production, plans to invest more than $12 billion in a large-scale non-ferrous metals production and processing project in Kazakhstan. The project was discussed last week during a meeting between Yerzhan Yelekeyev, Chairman of the Board of Kazakh Invest, and Changjun Meng, General Director of EHG. According to Kazakh Invest, EHG plans to build a large industrial park in Kazakhstan, incorporating advanced technologies in non-ferrous metallurgy. The facility will focus on deep metal processing and the production of finished goods for export to the European Union, Central Asia, and China. The project is expected to create up to 10,000 jobs at various stages of implementation. According to Changjun Meng, EHG has already registered a subsidiary in Kazakhstan, which will serve as the project's main operational center. The company has completed preliminary geodetic and hydrogeological studies of land plots across several Kazakh regions and plans to begin a detailed site assessment in the near future. Yelekeyev pledged comprehensive government support for the investment project, emphasizing its significance for Kazakhstan’s industrial sector. "Attracting major strategic investors like East Hope Group opens new opportunities for Kazakhstan," Yelekeyev stated. "We see this project not only as a large investment but also as a way to introduce advanced technologies, create new jobs, and localize production. It will strengthen Kazakhstan’s position in the global non-ferrous metals supply chain and significantly expand finished product exports." EHG has expressed its readiness to sign an investment framework agreement with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Industry and Construction, marking a significant step forward in the project’s development.

U.S. Deports 119 Migrants, Including Uzbeks, to Panama Under Agreement

The United States has deported 119 migrants of various nationalities to Panama as part of a bilateral agreement, Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino announced on Thursday. According to Reuters, a U.S. Air Force flight carrying deportees from Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam arrived in Panama on Wednesday. Two additional flights are expected soon, bringing the total number of deported individuals to 360. The migrants will stay at a shelter near the Darién jungle, a critical migration route between Central and South America, before being sent to their home countries. “Through a cooperation program with the U.S. government, a flight arrived yesterday with 119 people of various nationalities,” President Mulino said. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not commented on the deportations. Earlier this month, after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Mulino reaffirmed that Panama’s sovereignty over the Panama Canal is non-negotiable. However, he also indicated that Panama could deport more migrants as part of ongoing cooperation with the U.S. During the same meeting, Panama’s security officials discussed the possibility of expanding an existing July 2024 agreement, which currently allows the U.S. to deport Venezuelan, Colombian, and Ecuadorian migrants through a Panamanian airstrip at U.S. expense. Panama’s Deputy Minister for Security, Luis Icaza, reported that the number of migrants crossing the Darién jungle dropped by 90% in January compared to the same period last year. The U.S. deportation policy could be part of a broader strategy to speed up removals of migrants whose home countries are reluctant to accept them. In January, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his hardline stance on illegal immigration while stating that he has no objections to legal immigration. He also defended his plan to end birthright citizenship as part of his broader immigration policy.