IDS Borjomi International says production workers to be paid amid frozen accounts

12:44, 06.06.2022

IDS Borjomi International, Georgia’s Russian-owned mineral water giant, reiterated the issues surrounding a delayed salary payment, explaining that production workers are being paid first because the company has frozen accounts.

The company also pledged it hired no new employees. “The #1 and #2 bottling factories are working at minimum load, only for Georgian market as the situation regarding the export markets (80%) is unclear,” reads the company press statement.

IDS Borjomi workers kicked off full-scale picketing of #1 and #2 bottling factories as they are demanding the payment of delayed salaries, the reinstatement of their dismissed colleagues, the return of previous working conditions, a 25% salary increase, and the ending of a “blackmailing and threatening” against vocal workers.

For the record, the company announced the suspension of production on April 29, citing “difficulties” brought about by the war in Ukraine. The company’s majority shareholder, Mikhail Fridman, a Russian oligarch, is currently facing Western sanctions over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

By - Marika Kartozia

Society

IDS BORJOMI International