Turkmen Riled by Turkish Firms' Hiring Policies

Turkmen are increasingly resentful at the way Turkish firms have moved into country, dominating sectors like the construction industry and providing little work for local people.

Turkmen president Saparmurat Niazov has singled out Turkey as his main commercial partner, but many analysts believe that too many Turkish firms are winning big-money contracts and tax concessions from the government.

Estimates as to the number of Turkish companies working here vary, but generally sources agree that there are around 300 such business employing 15,000 workers.

Perhaps the most visible signs of the Turkish presence are the big construction projects in Ashgabat, which include monuments, parks, elite housing complexes, hotels, factories and business centres.

In addition to having a big stake in the building trade, Turkish companies dominate the pharmaceuticals and textile industry. Almost 90 per cent of Turkmenistan’s high-quality cotton products are exported to Turkey, and from there to Europe.

Relations between Turks and Turkmen have traditionally been good – they are both Turkic nations and have no reason for conflict. Turkmen students attend educational institutions in Turkey and Turkmen traders do a lot of business over there.

But ordinary people here, many of whom struggle to make ends meet, see little benefit from the substantial Turkish commercial involvement in their country.

Most of the workers employed in Turkish companies, factories and building sites are hired back in Turkey,

Tahir, a high qualified engineer, said, “ I tried several times to find a job at new Turkish factories - but every time I was told there were no vacancies. I couldn’t believe it because they’d just opened. But I understood why a few months later when workers from Turkey arrived. We Turkmen are being deprived of jobs in our own country.”

The few Turkmen who managed to get jobs with Turkish companies are largely underpaid or otherwise exploited.

“If a Turkmen is employed in a position that requires a high qualification, he receives 200 US dollars a month, while his Turkish counterpart gets ten times that amount for the same job although they have the same qualifications and experience,” said Redjep, an experienced crane operator.

“ And a Turk goes home after working the required eight-hour shift, while a Turkmen may have to do overtime - without additional pay.”

Arslan told IWPR that his job at a printing house was very demanding and required long hours and a lot of responsibility yet “ we work together with Turkish people who do the same layouts as we do, also at night, but I receive 80 dollars a month for that, whereas my Turkish colleagues are paid around 2,000 dollars for the same job. We have equal qualifications and work experience, so why such injustice in our wages?

“I am not opposed to Turkish workers here, but this discrimination creates a lot of frustration and anger. This is because Turkish businessmen hire us knowing very well that we will agree to any work at a minimal wage, given the widespread unemployment.”

Maral Kurbanova of the Turkmen statistics department acknowledges that Turkish companies discriminate against local people,

“Thousands of people, from simple worker to engineers, could be employed on those large projects across Turkmenistan, and that would help to curb the critical level of unemployment we have now,” said Kurbanova.

“Many qualified Turkmens are in need of jobs, yet positions that they could fill are occupied instead by Turks. No wonder, then, that there is a certain amount of resentment towards Turks, and still no solution to our unemployment problem.”

There are now signs that the Turkmen sense of injustice over the employment policies of Turkish enterprises is turning into resentment.

“I do not like Turks…they take our bread from us..,” said a young Turkmen who earns a living as a porter at an Ashgabat bazaar, reflecting the grievances felt by growing numbers of people.