AlES youth: focus on results

“Since the beginning of November this year, AlES JSC has launched a housing program for the Company’s employees”. Chairman of the Management Board Yerik Mashirov began his meeting with representatives of the Zharkyn Bolashak youth organization with such a message. From the very first meeting at the beginning of the year with the head of the company, young power engineers counted on their effectiveness. Therefore, ideas, specific proposals, and critical remarks were prepared for the conversation, and I am setting myself up for a frank conversation about the urgent with the expected result.

The new format of interaction with the staff, introduced by Yerik Mashirov when he joined the company, has taken root and has been welcomed. Regular meetings with employees, and first of all with young people, allowed the manager to immediately and directly identify the range of issues of relevance for power engineers that need to be addressed.

So the next meeting with the Chairman of the Management Board, held on 5 November, was dedicated to the topical issues of the staff. This time it was attended by 20 activists of the youth organisation. Communicating with colleagues, the head listens to suggestions, ideas, requests, which are then openly and sometimes emotionally discussed by all. The discussions are followed by conclusions and then decisions are made in accordance with the company’s procedures.

This time Yerik Mashirov focused on the importance of creating comfortable working conditions for the company’s employees and the steps taken by the Management Board in this direction. In particular, it was said that for successful work it is necessary to provide employees with free meals and quality overalls. Thus, about the problems with the quality of protective clothing, work gloves, which are issued to employees, told Kanstantsiya Kaderbayeva, engineer of Production and Technical Department of CHPP-2 named after A.Zhakutov, and Nurbol Shamygulov, mechanic for repair of road-building machines and tractors of fuel and transport shop of CHPP-3. They also reported a shortage of overalls for some workshops. There were also problems with making requests for overalls and collecting signatures for approval.

The Head of the Management Board, responding to enquiries, said that work is now continuing to provide food for all employees, and a new standard of workwear is being developed. The company’s management is focused on ensuring safe working conditions at workplaces, which are characterised by the complexity of work. Therefore, the task of compliance with safety rules remains a priority both for the company and for all employees. That is why JSC AlES provides support of power engineers in this matter at the highest possible level.

Another issue that was emphasised this time – the development of the company itself. Ye. Mashirov, noting the strategic importance of the energy sector for the country, spoke about further plans for the development of the company’s infrastructure, repair works and increasing their volume compared to previous years. The issues of mutually beneficial and fair partnership relations with contractors, especially Kazakhstani ones, were touched upon, including small and medium business, which is the driving force of Kazakhstan’s economy. In turn, the company should be honest and transparent in relations with its partners.

The Head of the Board expressed confidence that Zharkyn Bolashak organization today already plays a key role in the future of the industry and suggested working with young people to solve problems and improve the state of affairs in the company. Well, the youth showed initiative by identifying problem areas in the work. For example, young power engineers mentioned the issue of assigning grade levels for fitters and fitters as one of the important topics. Long stay of employees on one category, despite their accumulated experience and length of service, raised Abylaikhan Aktan, master of the Production Area of the Electrical Shop of CHPP-1 named after B.Orazbayev, and Adil Abildayev, engineer of instrumentation and automation of the electrical laboratory of CHPP-1 named after B.Orazbayev. This leads to delays in upgrading the skills of workers, Abylaykhan emphasised.

Sain Sanzhar, a leading engineer-technologist of the production and technical department of Fuel Reception and Unloading Center, considered the removal of solid waste as a task requiring attention of the management and accelerated, systematic solution. He noted that it is difficult for the production departments to get through to the contracting organizations, despite the contracts signed for removal. The issue was taken ‘on the pencil’.

In turn, Gulnaz Merembay, an engineer for automated production management systems at Cascade of HPP, noted that such a bureaucratic procedure as inventory takes a lot of time. But in the end it affects all production processes. Gulnaz also raised the problem of bureaucratic delays in collecting signatures and processing documents.

Zhanerke Panarkhanqyzy, Production Preparation Engineer of Production and Technical Department of Energoremont PRC, informed about the increase in staff turnover, especially among electric welders. She stated that this affects the stability and qualification of workers. At the meeting, the issue of safety compliance and work with technical inspectors was discussed in detail. This topic was raised by Asset Amirbekov, Head of Repair Service of CHPP-1 named after B.Orazbayev, Chairman of the youth organisation. He keeps the issue under control, and the support of the management, which was voiced at the meeting, was important for him. There are no trifles in the working process – this was demonstrated by the discussion of the lack of essential furniture for workers. Responding to these questions, the Chairman of the Board assured that the moratorium on its purchase has already been lifted and a plan to purchase furniture for employees is already being formed.

In the course of the discussion, the participants of the meeting came to the conclusion that it was necessary to map the issues of concern. Eight key areas were identified, in which representatives of the youth organisation will be involved. Moreover, it was decided to distribute the areas of work among the members of the youth organisation “Zharkyn Bolashak”, so that each issue would be supervised and solved within separate areas. Responsible persons will work on solving problems and provide reports on the work done.

Concluding the discussion, the head of the company emphasised the importance of regular meetings with young people and reporting on each area of work. This approach and personal responsibility allows for more effective problem solving, improving the quality of work and developing co-operation within the company.