Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Birzhan Nurymbetov, Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions Eraly Tugzhanov, Akims of the Almaty Region Amandyk Batalov, Atyrau Region — Nurlan Nogayev, Zhambyl Region — Askar Myrzakhmetov reported on the enterprises' wage arrears and labor market regulation.

In the 2019 Global Competitiveness Index on the factor "Labor Market Efficiency," Kazakhstan rose from 30 to 25 place, overtaking Georgia (37), Russia (62), Ukraine (69) and other countries.

In July 2019, the government introduced a draft law “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Labor Issues” to the Majilis of the Parliament, which provides for the translation of labor contracts into electronic format, the establishment of duties and responsibilities of employers to create decent working and living conditions for employees, and the expansion of secondments within the group one company, consolidation of measures for the implementation of the OSH management system based on the assessment and management of occupational risks at the enterprise s and other measures.

Over 6.7 million employees are working in Kazakhstan. Starting from Jan. 1, 2019, the minimum wage was increased one and a half times to 42.5 thousand tenge, and the salary of 1.2 million low-paid workers at 203 thousand enterprises — by 32%.

In 2017-2019, wage arrears were reduced by 169 million tenge or by 9.8% to 1.4 billion tenge. The largest number of debt enterprises in the city of Nur-Sultan, Aktobe, Almaty and Turkistan regions. Debt on 65 enterprises at the stage of rehabilitation and bankruptcy is 691 million tenge.

Over the past 3 years, labor inspectors, together with the prosecutor's office, revealed 930 facts of violations of labor and migration laws, including 474 facts of wage imbalances at 25 enterprises, 681 permissions were revoked, 393 foreign workers were expelled from the country. This year, the Comprehensive Plan for the Resolution and Prevention of Labor Conflicts was approved.

“One of the main tasks assigned to us by the First President – Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev and the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, is to ensure social stability in enterprises and create safe working conditions for workers. Today, a comprehensive legislative framework, tripartite social partnership has been built in this area, measures are being taken to comply with safety precautions and reduce injuries — for 10 months 13% lower compared to the same period in 2018,” Mamin said.

The head of government instructed to intensify the implementation of the adopted in this year. A roadmap to reduce occupational injuries, focusing on the prevention and prevention of industrial accidents.

“Akimats of the regions should improve the qualitative, and where necessary, the quantitative composition of the State Labor Inspectorate,” said Mamin.

The prime minister instructed to review the current algorithm for monitoring wage arrears, as well as tighten legislation on the timeliness of its payment.

“It should be unprofitable for an employer not to pay salaries to employees,” Mamin emphasized.

The Ministry of Healthcare, together with the Ministry of Labor and the Federation of Trade Unions, in order to prevent occupational diseases, has been instructed to take measures for their early detection, as well as to strengthen the provision of professional pathological assistance.

The prime minister instructed to create an interagency commission to discuss the possibility of Kazakhstan joining the Conventions of the International Labor Organization and discussing pressing issues of social and labor relations.

Mamin drew the attention of members of the Government to the low use of mediation in labor issues.

“The solution to almost every labor conflict takes place with the participation of state bodies, while these issues should be resolved, first of all, at the ‘employer-employee’ level through the mediation of the trade union,” the prime minister said, instructing to make proposals by the end of this year on transformation of the social partnership format.