Public and private sector employees in Ashgabat have been mobilized in clean-up campaigns for a month.
Being mobilized in clean-up campaigns does not exempt people from fulfilling their work responsibilities. After cleaning the area for a few hours they are obliged to go to their workplace to complete an eight-hour workday. As a result, the workday could last up to 12 hours.
Every day public and private sector employees, students and senior graders sweep the streets and collect garbage in assigned areas around offices, educational establishments and parks. According to those involved, the streets are already clean enough because clean-up campaigns are held daily. Despite this, they have to pretend they are working and not standing idle.
Participation in clean-up campaigns is officially voluntary but people are threatened with termination if they refuse to participate in the community service, . There are no exceptions even for elderly employees or mothers of young children.
Some people cannot o endure such a workload and resign. A few employees of “Ashgabatteplo” have submitted letters of resignation.
I had difficulty getting this job.I did my best but I am no longer able to cope with this workload.I do realize that it will be more challenging for me and my family financially, but it is impossible to work 12 hours a day, complained an exhausted female worker of the organization, who has resigned.
According to her, a few other people in the organization have also submitted letters of resignation. The administration is content with the situation because they can then hire new employees for a bribe.
Clean-up campaigns are scheduled to last until 25 May, when the 140th anniversary of Ashgabat will be celebrated.The post Public and private sector employees in Ashgabat have been mobilized in clean-up campaigns for a month first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.