President’s Address: Increase in minimum wage to raise incomes of 1 million 650 thousand employees

At the government session chaired by Prime Minister Askar Mamin, measures to implement the Address of the President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the people of Kazakhstan "Unity of People and Systemic Reforms — Solid Foundation for the Country's Prosperity" were considered. Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan Serik Shapkenov reported on the implementation of instructions in the social sphere.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population will implement measures in the areas of the national qualifications system, migration policy, and wage increases.

In order to provide the country's economy with qualified personnel, the Ministry will develop a draft law aimed at:

  1. recognition of qualifications and skills;
  2. creation of the National Qualifications Authority, which should become the coordinator of the qualification conformity assessment.

The new law will ensure the unification and establishment of uniform conditions for the qualification recognition system, as well as the consolidation of methods for regulating access to professions.

The President of the country noted the great influence of migration processes on the labor market. In this regard, it was instructed to develop a new Migration Policy Concept.

The draft Concept for a new five-year period (2022 - 2026) will provide for:

  • ensuring favorable conditions for increasing interregional internal mobility from south to north;
  • creation of a mechanism to protect the labor and social rights of Kazakhstani citizens working abroad;
  • creation of conditions for resettlement in the Republic of Kazakhstan to a permanent place of residence of qandas people;
  • provision of a regulated and flexible system for attracting foreign specialists.

Also, according to the minister, within the framework of the new Concept, the existing mechanism for allocating benefits to citizens moving from south to north will be reformatted.

“For employers who independently hire and employ workers from the southern regions, the mechanism for obtaining state support will be simplified and expanded. This will stimulate them to actively participate in resettlement programs,” Shapkenov said.

In accordance with the initiatives announced by the Head of State, measures will be taken to increase wages.

First, from Jan. 1, 2022, the minimum wage (minimum wage) will be 60 thousand tenge. This measure will lead to an increase in cash incomes of 1 million 650 thousand employees. It will also increase the income of other workers, taking into account the inter-grade qualification system.

Second, a draft Government Decree will be developed to gradually increase the salary of 588 thousand certain categories of civil servants (archivists, librarians, museum experts, foresters, technical personnel, etc. — 2 times within 4 years).

“As a result, from 2022, their salaries will increase by 20% annually and by 2025 will double,” Shapkenov said.

The minimum salary will increase from 49 thousand to 60 thousand, or by 22%.

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