AlES: it all starts with taking care of the personnel

Canteens of the enterprise will provide food for about three thousand employees of AlES JSC. The pilot project has already been launched at the largest enterprise of CHPP-2 named after A.Zhakutov, which employs more than 1000 workers.

Almaty Power Company implements a full-scale social program that covers all production assets and all production teams. One of the projects of AlES social policy is the project on providing free hot meals. Its purpose is to provide the production personnel of AlES JSC with high-quality and balanced nutrition, which complies with the norms and rules of regulatory legal acts. Backup Service Resorts LLP, which has extensive experience in organizing catering at production facilities, was contracted as a contractor.

– This story is not only about serving food. It is a story about caring, respect, and how even in everyday things you can build a real labor culture,’ says Yernar Sandybayev, Managing Director for General Affairs of AlES JSC. – When an employee feels that he is thought of and taken care of, he doubly repays it with his hard work. And together we create what is called the real strength of the company. Our company consistently implements a social strategy, with people at the centre of it. Care for the health, safety and well-being of our employees is an integral part of our corporate culture. We are convinced that a strong company starts with respect for the people who create its results. Therefore, organizing free meals is not seen as an expense, but as an investment in the sustainability, motivation and future of AlES. It is especially important to do this in the year of working professions, which was announced by the head of State. By doing so, we supported the initiative and were able to fulfill what was previously planned, but which, due to circumstances, we were unable to do. Now this work has become planned, systematic and all-encompassing. When implementing the pilot project at A.Zhakutov CHPP-2, we set ourselves such tasks as improving working conditions, creating a favorable social and psychological climate in the workforce, increasing the level of social security and taking care of the health of employees. The first results of the ‘pilot’ show that we are going in the right direction and allow us to better understand what still needs to be taken into account when developing the system of free meals at AlES enterprises.

The station’s canteen feeds both day and night shifts seven days a week, as the CHPP works non-stop – day and night supplying light, heat and hot water to the citizens. About 900 people eat in the canteen per day. And ahead of us is the opening of catering outlets in other production departments of the company. And in many respects, the first experience of the canteen at CHPP-2 named after A.Zhakutov allows us to adjust and improve the work of new canteens, to determine the schedule, shift patterns and menu.

The first feedback from AlES employees, who are already getting used to the comfort of lunch, diverse menu and are acquiring new habits of life, are important indicators. All opinions matter here. Reviews are frank, more often positive, and sometimes… unexpected.

– Now my wife is smiling in the morning because she doesn’t have to pack a lunch anymore. As for me, I’m well-fed, satisfied, and work better. I have three children, and I am very grateful to the management for their care,’ says Mukhamedjan Oralbekov, foreman of the AMC of Energoremont. – It is very pleasant that the company has thought about people and provides us with lunches. This is a great help for my family. It is a real contribution to the well-being of my family. Besides, the food in the canteen is delicious, the portions are sufficient. The idea of free meals is wonderful.

It is also important that the canteen becomes a meeting place for people who work side by side and can now socialize in a quiet environment. Here they solve various issues, exchange news, and just relax.

– We used to sit in our offices, but now we sit at a common table. We arrive “centrally” – the management now provides transportation, but the main thing is that we not only have lunch, but also communicate. Delicious, convenient, thank you! – Rosa Rakhmetova, a leading HR specialist at the Central Research Institute, smiles.

Razkul Beglan, an engineer-technologist at the turbine shop of CHPP-2, says that this is the first time in nine years of his employment that the company provides free meals. This is important for many workers, it saves their family budget. But what’s important to Rasul is that everything is tasty, especially the meatballs.

And Bulat Suanbekov from Energoremont even reminded him of… the once promised communism. “You come and they feed you for free. We don’t carry cans like we used to. Everything is very nice, comfortable, well done. We know that we will be well-fed,” he thanks the company for this initiative.

Since April of this year, Backup Service Resorts LLP has started fulfilling its contractual obligations in the station’s canteen. Now not only power engineers of CHPP-2, but also employees of CPVT and PRP Energoremont have their meals here. The canteen is crowded, but everything is well organized.

– The cooks do their best to keep everything well organised given such a large number of people, the portions are rationed, and everything is quite tasty. And the visitors try to keep order. I am satisfied. This was noted by Rinat Sembayev, electrician of the electric shop of A.Zhakutov CHPP-2.

– Hot meals are provided in day and night shifts: during the day we serve up to 700 people and at night about 150, – says Elena Khmeleva, production manager. The menu is made taking into account the shift rotation, balanced in terms of nutritional and energy value, varied by days of the week and methods of technological processing.

All catering products are certified, technological processes are worked out, all employees of the canteen involved in the preparation of meals have profile education.

There is a sanitary doctor in the staff of the contractor, who ensures the work of the canteen in accordance with sanitary and epidemiological requirements.

In general, the first two weeks of the canteen’s work showed that everything is working out as planned. Much has been done for this purpose: before it was launched at the station, a lot of organizational and construction work was carried out.

– The premises were renovated, the hall where there used to be 100 seats was expanded to 200 seats, brilliant equipment was installed, and new lighting was installed,’ says Erturk Chakmak, Deputy Director of CHPP-2 after A.Zhakutov. – On 4 March, we signed a contract with Backup Service Resorts LLP, which offers a comprehensive catering service for industrial enterprises. We chose it considering that the company’s activity is licensed and certified in full compliance with the requirements of the International Quality Management System ISO 9001. And, before we started the work, the LLP specialists identified certain discrepancies in the readiness of the canteen premises on the territory of CHPP-2. After their conclusion, we carried out the necessary works, eliminated all the identified discrepancies. After that the contractor purchased the appropriate equipment and utensils for the canteen.

According to the schedule established at the plant, now the employees are transported to the place of meals – the canteen at CHPP-2 – by the production departments’ own forces. Processes are being adjusted, temporary solutions are being discussed, and including the purchase of disposable tableware for delivery of ready meals to the workplaces of the employees of CPVT and PRP “Energoremont” located outside the territory of CHPP-2 named after A.Zhakutov.

Soon there will be launched the own canteens in other production departments of the company: at Kapshagai HPP after Sh.Chokin, at CHPP-1 after B.Orazbayev, at CHPP-3, at ZTC and at Cascade HPP. Repairs are already in progress here, equipment is being purchased. In some places buffets will be built, in some places seats will be enlarged.

– Once repairs are completed in the canteens in the departments, 354 people at CHPP-1 and another 358 people at CHPP-3 after B.Orazbayev will be provided with meals,’ says Bekmurat Aduov, head of the Organizational Support Department. – The largest number of employees – 441 people will be fed in the canteen of Energoremont, 194 people will be provided with lunches at ZTC, another 119 power engineers will be able to eat in the canteen of the Cascade of HPPs and 75 people – in the CPVT. Work on the accelerated opening of the facilities is underway. The contractor conducted a survey of the Kapshagai HPP canteen and identified some discrepancies on the readiness of the premises, which will be eliminated in the near future. There was also a lack of technological, refrigeration equipment, kitchen equipment, furniture and utensils. Once all the remarks are eliminated, 146 people will be served meals here.

Repair works are being carried out in the canteens of the departments of CHPP-1, CHPP-3 and ZTC. Procurement procedures for kitchen equipment have been completed and deliveries are expected within 15-45 days. The launch of the facilities is planned for August 2025. A total of 2,873 AlES employees will be provided with meals.

– The head of the State has repeatedly emphasized the improvement of workers’ conditions. I believe that the work that our company is currently doing meets both the expectations of the personnel and modern requirements of catering for production teams, as well as the call of the President of the country to focus on social support and welfare of workers, – concludes Yerik Mashirov, Chairman of the Board of AlES JSC. – It is a renewed tradition and a good model of attitude towards people. After all, when a person is well-fed – he is relaxed. And when he feels being taken care of, he becomes stronger. Moreover, the staff understands that our projects to improve the social environment are not a one-time campaign, but a well-thought-out strategy. After all, a powerful company starts with the respect for those who create its results every day – on shifts in the shops and in the workshops.

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