ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 8. Since the beginning of the year, over 1,600 labor rights violations have been detected in Kazakhstan, Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Kazakhstan.
"Since January, labor inspectors have safeguarded the rights of more than 11,100 workers. As of April 1, 2025, state labor inspectors have found unpaid wages at 45 companies in the country, affecting over 1,300 workers, with a total arrears of 395.9 million tenge (approximately $751,710). Furthermore, inspections at various organizations uncovered 1,600 violations of labor rights," the Ministry of Labor reports.
Managers of companies found to have wage arrears and labor violations have been issued 832 mandatory compliance orders, and fines amounting to over 98.1 million tenge (approximately $186,390) have been imposed.
"Following the measures taken, including strict deadlines and schedules for the repayment of wage arrears, the rights of more than 1,100 employees were protected and they were paid 241.8 million tenge (about $459,420)," the Ministry states.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection is also closely monitoring the enforcement of labor laws through state control.
As of April 1, 2025, labor inspectors had conducted 1,332 inspections, uncovering 1,616 violations: 1,332 related to labor laws, 272 concerning occupational health and safety, and 12 on employment matters.
Moreover, it has been reported that only 6 percent of workers in Kazakhstan receive employer-sponsored qualification upgrades.
"Businesses need to become more engaged in the training and retraining of their workforce. For instance, just 6 percent of workers improve their qualifications at their employer’s expense in Kazakhstan, whereas in OECD countries, this figure is 48 percent. I urge businesses to focus on enhancing workers' skills, providing social support, and ensuring decent working conditions. The Atameken Chamber of Commerce should coordinate these efforts," said Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.
Furthermore, the results of the fourth quarter of 2024 show that the median wage in Kazakhstan stood at 308,717 tenge (approximately $586). The average nominal wage (excluding small enterprises) stood at 434,982 tenge (approximately $826), reflecting a 10.5 percent increase compared to the same quarter in 2023, with a real wage growth of 1.8 percent.