In 2020, Kazakhstan made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government approved additional funding for increasing the number of shelters for victims of human trafficking, including child victims, improved the bidding process through which shelter providers apply for government funding, and extended funding awards from 1 to 3 years. In addition, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection added forced labor indicators to labor inspection checklists, and updated labor inspectors' job descriptions to include detection and referral of potential forced labor cases to law enforcement. However, children in Kazakhstan are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also engage in child labor in markets. The government lacks current, comprehensive, and detailed research on child labor, including in cotton production. In addition, labor inspections of small enterprises are permitted only in cases that pose a mass threat to life and health, law and social order, or national security.
Children in Kazakhstan are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also engage in child labor in markets. (1-5) Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in Kazakhstan.
|
Children |
Age |
Percent |
|---|---|---|
|
Working (% and population) |
5 to 14 |
3.2 (79,690) |
|
Attending School (%) |
5 to 14 |
90.7 |
|
Combining Work and School (%) |
7 to 14 |
3.6 |
|
Primary Completion Rate (%) |
102.0 |
Source for primary completion rate: Data from 2020, published by UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2021. (6)
Source for all other data: International Labor Organization's analysis of statistics from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 3 (MICS 3), 2006. (7)
Based on a review of available information, Table 2 provides an overview of children's work by sector and activity.
|
Sector/Industry |
Activity |
|---|---|
|
Agriculture |
Farming, including harvesting vegetables, weeding, and harvesting cotton† (2,3,8-11) |
|
Industry |
Construction,† activities unknown (3,12) |
|
Services |
Working in markets and on the streets, including transporting and selling items (2-5,10,13) |
|
Domestic work, including child care (3,12,14) |
|
|
Working in gas stations (10) |
|
|
Car washing (5,10,13) |
|
|
Working in restaurants† as waiters (5,10,13,15) |
|
|
Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡ |
Commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (1,10) |
|
Forced begging, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (1,12) |
† Determined by national law or regulation as hazardous and, as such, relevant to Article 3(d) of ILO C. 182.
‡ Child labor understood as the worst forms of child labor per se under Article 3(a)–(c) of ILO C. 182.
There is no current and comprehensive research on child labor in Kazakhstan that can provide details about the number of children working in different sectors, including in agriculture, the nature of their work, or the hazards involved. (5)
Migrant children from the Kyrgyz Republic, some of whom may be unaccompanied, might engage in work in Kazakhstan. (3) Working migrant children are often unable to work legally, limiting their entitlement to work protections. Although migrant children who are above the minimum working age theoretically have the right to a legal work permit, in practice, many are unable to obtain such a permit because they do not list "work" as their purpose for visiting the country when entering Kazakhstan. (3,16) Fear, corruption, and discrimination against migrants can also prevent migrant children from the Kyrgyz Republic from obtaining legal work permits. Kyrgyzstani migrant children over age 16 who are in irregular migration status are vulnerable to administrative fines, arrest, and detention with adults. (3)
Migration authorities sometimes register migrant children under age 16 as unnamed family members, rather than under their own names, which prevents them from receiving Kazakhstani identification documents. (17,18) Some of these undocumented migrant children fall victim to forced child labor and commercial sexual exploitation in Kazakhstan. (3,9) Although Kazakhstan guarantees free education regardless of migration status, migrant children face barriers to accessing education. Some school officials refuse to enroll students who lack Kazakhstani identification documents, and many parents of undocumented children lack awareness of their right to appeal such decisions to regional education officials. (3,17) Landlords often do not register migrant tenants, which prevents migrant children from enrolling in local schools. (18) In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated barriers to migrant children's education. Reports indicate that some migrants in Kazakhstan who were awaiting return to their home countries did not enroll their children for school. (5) In addition, limited access to internet and other infrastructure impeded the ability of migrant, refugee, and internally displaced children to access distance learning and education resources while in-person schooling was suspended. (5)
Reports also suggest that the pandemic increased children's vulnerability to child labor in Kazakhstan's 2020 cotton harvest. In 2020, children were identified in eight cotton fields in Turkestan province, a region the government has identified as having a high risk of child labor in cotton picking. (9,11) In one field, journalists noted approximately 10 children ages 10 to 16 who joined parents and other family members to work in the harvest. (5,11) Parents cited challenges related to distance learning and lack of childcare options as reasons for bringing children to the fields. (11) The Turkestan provincial government registered three cases of child labor in the cotton harvest in Zhetysayskiy district; in all three cases, both the employers and parents of these children received official warnings. (11)
Children with disabilities in Kazakhstan face challenges accessing education due to inaccessible school buildings, a lack of specialists able to provide inclusive education services, and official disability evaluations that render children eligible for at-home education only or ineligible for education entirely. (18,19) Children with disabilities who live in specialized, closed-care institutions may be compelled to assist caregivers in feeding, changing diapers, bathing, and dressing younger children. (14) Disabled children who are unable to access mainstream or inclusive education are at greater risk of being sent to such state institutions. (19)
Kazakhstan has ratified all key international conventions concerning child labor (Table 3).
|
Convention |
Ratification |
|---|---|
|
ILO C. 138, Minimum Age |
✓ |
|
ILO C. 182, Worst Forms of Child Labor |
✓ |
|
UN CRC |
✓ |
|
UN CRC Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict |
✓ |
|
UN CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography |
✓ |
|
Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons |
✓ |
The government has established laws and regulations related to child labor (Table 4). However, gaps exist in Kazakhstan’s legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including the minimum age for work.
|
Standard |
Meets International Standards |
Age |
Legislation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Minimum Age for Work |
No |
18 |
Articles 31 and 69 of the Labor Code (16) |
|
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work |
No |
18 |
Article 26.1(2) of the Labor Code; Article 153 of the Criminal Code (16,20) |
|
Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children |
Yes |
Article 26.1(2) of the Labor Code; Decree of the Minister of Health and Social Development No. 944 of 2015 (16,21) |
|
|
Prohibition of Forced Labor |
Yes |
Article 7 of the Labor Code; Articles 3, 128, and 135 of the Criminal Code (16,20) |
|
|
Prohibition of Child Trafficking |
Yes |
Article 135 of the Criminal Code (20) |
|
|
Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children |
No |
Articles 134, 135, and 312 of the Criminal Code (20) |
|
|
Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities |
Yes |
Articles 132, 133, and 135.2(9) of the Criminal Code; Article 26.1(2) of the Labor Code (16,20) |
|
|
Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment |
Yes |
19 |
Article 38.1(2) of the Military Service Act (22) |
|
Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military |
Yes |
Article 31 of the Military Service Act (22) |
|
|
Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups |
Yes |
Article 41 of the Law on Children’s Rights; Articles 132 and 267 of the Criminal Code (20,23) |
|
|
Compulsory Education Age |
Yes |
17‡ |
Article 30 of the Constitution; Articles 12 and 30 of the Law on Education (24,25) |
|
Free Public Education |
Yes |
Article 30 of the Constitution (24) |
‡ Age calculated based on available information (26,27)
The Labor Code's protections, including the minimum age for employment and prohibitions on hazardous work, do not meet international standards because they do not cover children without a written work contract. (16) In addition, although Article 69 of the Labor Code establishes caps on the maximum number of hours children ages 14 to 16 or 16 to 18 may work in a week, the law does not determine the activities or conditions in which children may engage in light work. (16)
Article 134 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan criminalizes involving a minor in prostitution, and Article 135 of the Criminal Code criminalizes trafficking of minors, including for the purpose of sexual exploitation. However, no law clearly criminalizes the users (clients) of prostitution involving children. (20)
The government has established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor (Table 5). However, gaps exist within the operations of enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate enforcement of their child labor laws.
|
Organization/Agency |
Role |
|---|---|
|
Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (MLSP) |
Enforces child labor laws and conducts labor inspections through the Ministry’s Committee on Labor, Social Protection and Migration. Implements the special social service program that funds shelters for victims of human trafficking, including child victims. (5) |
|
Ministry of Education and Science |
Coordinates child protection activities, including response to child labor complaints. (5) An official from the regional-level Department of Education responds to reports of child labor and determines whether law enforcement should investigate the case. (28) If the case is in agriculture, local officials meet with parents and school officials to reinforce that children should be in school during the academic year. The Ministry’s Center for the Adaptation of Minors provides assistance to victims of the worst forms of child labor and makes referrals to appropriate government services or NGOs for further assistance. (28) |
|
Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOIA) |
Through the Anti-Trafficking Unit, identifies and carries out initial investigation of criminal cases of the worst forms of child labor and hazardous child labor. Engages in identification and protection of human trafficking victims, including child victims. (5) |
|
Prosecutor General's Office |
Provides oversight of police operations related to child labor crimes to ensure compliance with all relevant protocols and legal requirements. (5) |
|
Child Protection Hotlines |
Receive reports of illegal child labor. There are three hotlines, one run by the Ministry of Education and Science's Child Protection Committee, one run by the Ombudsman for Children's Rights, and one run by a local NGO. (10) |
The Government of Kazakhstan maintains mobile squads in all regions of the country to monitor and respond to child labor violations. These squads consist of internal affairs officers, officials from local administrations, state labor inspectors, health professionals, youth workers, and psychologists. (29)
Labor Law Enforcement
In 2020, labor law enforcement agencies in Kazakhstan took actions to combat child labor (Table 6). However, gaps exist within the operations of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (MLSP) that may hinder adequate labor law enforcement, including lack of an appropriate number of inspectors.
|
Overview of Labor Law Enforcement |
2019 |
2020 |
|---|---|---|
|
Labor Inspectorate Funding |
Unknown |
$3.1 million |
|
Number of Labor Inspectors |
254 (30) |
274 (5) |
|
Inspectorate Authorized to Assess Penalties |
Yes (10) |
Yes (16,31) |
|
Initial Training for New Labor Inspectors |
Yes (10) |
Yes (5) |
|
Training on New Laws Related to Child Labor |
Yes (10) |
N/A |
|
Refresher Courses Provided |
Yes (10) |
Yes (5) |
|
Number of Labor Inspections Conducted |
9,522 (30) |
3,982 (5) |
|
Number Conducted at Worksite |
228 (30) |
228 (5) |
|
Number of Child Labor Violations Found |
5 (30) |
5 (5) |
|
Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed |
4 (30) |
5 (5) |
|
Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected |
Unknown |
5 (5) |
|
Routine Inspections Conducted |
Yes (30) |
Yes (5) |
|
Routine Inspections Targeted |
Yes (30) |
Yes (5) |
|
Unannounced Inspections Permitted |
Yes (29) |
Yes (29,32) |
|
Unannounced Inspections Conducted |
Yes (30) |
Yes (5) |
|
Complaint Mechanism Exists |
Yes (10) |
Yes (5) |
|
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (10) |
Yes (5) |
On January 1, 2020, a moratorium on labor inspections in small enterprises went into effect. Under this moratorium, an inspection can only occur at a small enterprise in cases that pose a mass threat to life and health, law and social order, or national security. (33,34) Small enterprises include businesses with fewer than 100 employees and average revenue below a government-determined threshold. (32)
Moreover, labor inspectors generally must notify entities prior to an inspection unless the Entrepreneurial Code provides for an exception to this notice requirement. (32) Labor inspectors from the MLSP are empowered to conduct unplanned inspections on the basis of complaints, which are only considered valid if they are not anonymous. These notice requirements limit inspectors' ability to check that working conditions comply with national labor laws, including those related to child labor. (5,32) Labor inspectors are also authorized to conduct unannounced inspections of businesses on the basis of requests from law enforcement agencies, in response to complaints related to certain extreme health and safety hazards, and in cases in which the worksite is in a remote location. (5,32) In addition, labor inspectors can conduct routine inspections on the basis of risk-assessment reports. (32)
During the reporting period, labor inspectors conducted 93 routine inspections based on risk-assessment reports and 3,889 inspections in response to complaints. Inspectors identified five child labor violations involving children who were working without employment agreements in markets, car wash and repair stations, and cafes. (5)
The government also conducts raids to detect child labor violations during annual, inter-ministerial campaigns to raise awareness about, detect, and combat child labor. These campaigns are widely publicized, limited in duration, and occur at approximately the same time each year. (5) As a result, the raids conducted during these campaigns may fail to adequately detect child labor in seasonal agriculture or at businesses that conceal violations in anticipation of these high-profile campaigns. From June 1 to 12, 2020, the Ministry of Education and Science cooperated with other government agencies and NGOs to conduct 5,714 raids to detect child labor as part of the government's annual "Twelve Days Against Child Labor" campaign. (5) Raids were targeted at locations at high risk for child labor, including markets, gas stations, and construction sites. (5) As a result of these checks, 34 children, some of whom may have been engaged in child labor, were found working in violation of labor legislation; the government reported that the majority of violations involved the absence of a labor contract. (5) The Ministry of Education and Science also worked with police, other government agencies, and NGOs to conduct child welfare checks as part of the "Children at Nighttime" campaign, which was conducted in the second quarter of 2020. The government identified 18 working children through these checks who may have been engaged in child labor. (5) Seven children were working as waiters or bus conductors, eight were working at car washes, and three were vending at markets. The government reported that only 10 of these children were working with an employment contract. (5) Information was not available on the number of child labor violations referred to the labor inspectorate because of the "Twelve Days Against Child Labor" and "Children at Nighttime" campaigns.
In 2020, the MLSP updated labor inspectors' job descriptions to include responsibility for referring potential forced labor cases to law enforcement and worked with the Ministry of Economy to add forced labor indicators to labor inspectors' checklists. (35) In addition, 96 labor inspectors received recertification training. (5) However, the number of labor inspectors is likely insufficient for the size of Kazakhstan’s workforce, which includes more than 8.97 million workers. (36) According to the ILO’s technical advice of a ratio approaching 1 inspector for every 20,000 workers in transitional economies, Kazakhstan would employ about 449 labor inspectors. (37,38)
Criminal Law Enforcement
In 2020, criminal law enforcement agencies in Kazakhstan took actions to combat child labor (Table 7). However, gaps exist within the operations of criminal law enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate criminal law enforcement, including allocating human resources.
|
Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement |
2019 |
2020 |
|---|---|---|
|
Initial Training for New Criminal Investigators |
Yes (10) |
Yes (5) |
|
Training on New Laws Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
Yes (10) |
N/A |
|
Refresher Courses Provided |
Yes (10) |
Yes (5) |
|
Number of Investigations |
10 (10) |
19 (5) |
|
Number of Violations Found |
10 (10) |
19 (5) |
|
Number of Prosecutions Initiated |
5 (30) |
4 (5) |
|
Number of Convictions |
1 (30) |
3 (5) |
|
Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to The Worst Forms of Child Labor |
Yes (30) |
Yes (5) |
|
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (10) |
Yes (5) |
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOIA) employs 42 operational officers who work specifically on trafficking in persons, including cases involving minors. However, reports indicated that this number of officers may be insufficient to adequately enforce criminal prohibitions against the worst forms of child labor in Kazakhstan. (5) In 2020, the government trained 168 police officers on identification of victims of trafficking, including child victims. (5) In addition, 252 officials, including law enforcement, judges, and labor inspectors, received training on investigating, prosecuting, and adjudicating forced labor cases. The Law Enforcement Academy of the Prosecutor General's Office also developed a video course on human trafficking for use in training newly employed law enforcement officers. (35)
During the reporting period, the MOIA investigated 19 cases related to the worst forms of child labor. All of these cases involved violations related to the commercial sexual exploitation of children, including 5 cases initiated based on prohibitions in Criminal Code Article 134, engagement of minors in prostitution; 4 cases based on Criminal Code Article 312, engagement of minors into pornographic activities; and 10 cases based on Criminal Code Article 135, trafficking in minors for the purpose of sexual exploitation. (5) Three of the investigations into cases involving children in prostitution were newly initiated in 2020. (35) The government prosecuted four cases involving the worst forms of child labor, three of which concluded in convictions in 2020. (5) In one of these cases, the perpetrator was found guilty of involving a minor into prostitution under Criminal Code Article 134. In the other two cases, the perpetrators were found guilty of trafficking in minors for the purpose of sexual exploitation under Criminal Code Article 135. (5) Sentences in all three of these cases ranged from 5 to 12 years in prison. (5)
All children identified in the worst forms of child labor in 2020 were removed from the exploitative situation and referred to NGOs and government-run shelters for social services and other assistance. (5) The MOIA also signed new memoranda of cooperation between 18 anti-trafficking NGOs and local police departments in 3 cities and 10 districts to enhance referral procedures and victim protection. (35) Sources reported a high level of overall cooperation between NGOs, social workers, and local police to address and assist child victims. (5,35)
The government has established mechanisms to coordinate its efforts to address child labor (Table 8).
|
Coordinating Body |
Role & Description |
|---|---|
|
National Coordination Council on Combating the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
Implements the National Action Plan (NAP) for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor 2020–2022. (39) Chaired by MLSP. Although the Coordination Council did not meet in 2020, it convened in January 2021 to discuss the results of the 2020 NAP implementation efforts. (5) |
|
Inter-Agency Commission on Combating Trafficking in Persons |
Coordinates efforts to combat human trafficking and recommends improvements to anti-human trafficking legislation, prevention strategies, protection of victims, and the prosecution of offenders. (35) Chaired by MOIA and MLSP on a 2-year rotational basis. Its members include state bodies, international organizations, and NGOs. (35) In 2020, convened two meetings to coordinate implementation of the Trafficking in Persons National Action Plan (TIP NAP) for 2017–2020, and to draft a new TIP NAP for 2021–2023. Due to the pandemic, both of these meetings were convened virtually. (35,40) |
|
Special Working Group on Trafficking in Persons |
Coordinates government action to respond to recommendations from the international community on improving efforts to combat trafficking in persons and labor exploitation. Led by MOIA and includes the Prosecutor General's Office, MLSP, the Supreme Court, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (41) In 2020, this group met regularly to coordinate planned actions to implement international recommendations on combating trafficking in persons, including proposed legal reform projects to align laws with international standards and enhance protection for trafficking victims. (42) |
|
Committee for the Protection of Children's Rights |
Works to protect children from exploitation. Operates under the Ministry of Education and Science at province-level departments of education. (10) In 2020, the Committee for the Protection of Children's Rights published survey research on the status of children's rights in Kazakhstan. The study's module on children's economic rights included an assessment of children's vulnerability to economic exploitation, including child labor. (43) |
|
Children's Rights Ombudsman |
Monitors observance of the rights of children. Receives and responds to complaints about violations of children’s rights and drafts annual reports on children's rights. (44) This coordinating mechanism was active in 2020 and published its annual report on the status of children's rights over the previous calendar year. (5) |
The government has established policies that are consistent with relevant international standards on child labor (Table 9).
|
Policy |
Description |
|---|---|
|
National Action Plan for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor (2020–2022) |
Addresses three priority areas, including (a) the creation of policies and laws to combat the worst forms of child labor; (b) the creation of programs to monitor vulnerable communities and sectors with the highest risk of child labor, and provide services to children who have been exploited in child labor; (c) raising awareness about the worst forms of child labor. (39) The government undertook a range of activities to implement this plan during the reporting period, including through awareness-raising campaigns about child labor and efforts to enhance local provision of services to vulnerable children. (45) |
|
National Action Plan to Counter Trafficking in Persons (2018–2020) |
Addressed several priority areas, including (a) prevention of forced child labor in the cotton and construction sectors; (b) exchange of information among government agencies on human trafficking and child pornography; (c) research on the worst forms of child labor and the provision of recommendations; and (d) raising of awareness of human trafficking among children. (28,46) The Inter-Agency Commission on Combating Trafficking in Persons oversaw this plan's final year of implementation in 2020. (5) |
‡ The government has other policies that may have addressed child labor issues or had an impact on child labor. (5,47)
In 2020, the Inter-Agency Commission on Combating Human Trafficking drafted a new National Action Plan to Counter Trafficking in Persons (2021–2023), which the Prime Minister formally approved and adopted in early 2021. (35,48,49)
In 2020, the government funded and participated in programs that include the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor (Table 10). However, gaps exist in these social programs, including adequacy to address the problem in all sectors.
|
Program |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Juvenile Care Centers† |
Ministry of Education and Science (MOES)-run centers for minors located throughout Kazakhstan. Provide temporary shelter and assistance to vulnerable children, including child victims of the worst forms of child labor, and street children. (5,35) Undergoing restructuring to improve supportive services and ensure appropriate referrals for further assistance. In 2020, MOES continued to provide retraining and professional development for staff as part of restructuring at these centers. (5,35) |
|
Shelters for Trafficking Victims† |
Funded by the government and operated by NGOs, provide legal, psychological, medical, and educational services to victims of human trafficking, including child victims, in seven provinces and two cities, including Almaty. (1,35) In 2020, the government approved additional funding to open new shelters in 17 areas of the country in 2021. The government also improved the bidding process through which funding is allocated to shelter providers to ensure that the highest-quality providers, rather than the most inexpensive, are awarded funding contracts, and it increased the length of awards to from 1 to 3 years. (35) |
|
Awareness-Raising Campaigns† |
Raise public awareness on child labor issues. (5) In 2020, MOES, with the cooperation of other agencies, implemented the annual "Twelve Days Against Child Labor" campaign, which included thousands of social media posts and online events to raise awareness about child labor and child assistance hotlines. (5) |
† Program is funded by the Government of Kazakhstan.
‡ The government had other social programs that may have included the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor. (50)
Although the Government of Kazakhstan implemented programs in 2020 to protect vulnerable children and raise awareness about child labor, research found no evidence that it has carried out programs to assist children engaged in child labor in services or agriculture.
Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in Kazakhstan (Table 11).
|
Area |
Suggested Action |
Year(s) Suggested |
|---|---|---|
|
Legal Framework |
Ensure that minimum age provisions and hazardous work prohibitions apply to all children, including those working without an employment contract. |
2016 – 2020 |
|
Criminally prohibit and penalize the use of a child for prostitution. |
2019 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that the law’s light work provisions specify the activities and conditions in which children may engage in light work. |
2020 |
|
|
Enforcement |
Increase the number of labor inspectors to meet the ILO's technical advice. |
2014 – 2020 |
|
Lift the moratorium on labor inspections at small enterprises and ensure that the labor inspectorate conducts routine, targeted, and unannounced labor inspections at such businesses as appropriate. |
2020 |
|
|
Strengthen the labor inspection system by eliminating barriers to unannounced onsite inspections. |
2020 |
|
|
Strengthen detection of child labor by ensuring that targeted enforcement efforts, such as raids or labor inspections, are undertaken throughout the year and in all sectors in which children are vulnerable to child labor. |
2020 |
|
|
Increase the number of human trafficking-focused law enforcement officers to ensure adequate enforcement of criminal prohibitions against the worst forms of child labor. |
2019 – 2020 |
|
|
Social Programs |
Conduct research to gather comprehensive data on child labor, including the activities carried out by children working in agriculture, in construction, and in services, to inform policies and programs. |
2013 – 2020 |
|
Ensure that all children have access to education, including children with irregular migration status and children with disabilities, and raise awareness in vulnerable communities about existing remedies for denial of school enrollment. |
2018 – 2020 |
|
|
Institute programs to address child labor, particularly in the agriculture and service sectors. |
2014 – 2020 |
- U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2020: Kazakhstan. Washington, DC, June 2020.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-trafficking-in-persons-report/kazakhstan/ - Kenzhebekova, Alma. Children’s Personal Space. Azattyq, July 25, 2016.
http://rus.azattyq.org/a/kazakhstan-alma-detskiy-trud/27871247.html - International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). Invisible and exploited in Kazakhstan: the plight of Kyrgyz migrant workers and members of their families. June 2018.
https://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/kyrgyz_migrant_workers_in_kazakhstan.pdf - Askhat Akmetbekov. Schoolchildren worked at markets in Almaty. Azattyk Ryhy, October 23, 2020.
https://rus.azattyq-ruhy.kz/incidents/16562-shkolniki-rabotali-na-rynkakh-v-almaty - U.S. Embassy- Nur-Sultan. Reporting, January 15, 2021.
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes (%). Accessed March 3, 2021. Please see “Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions” in the Reference Materials section of this report. http://data.uis.unesco.org/
- ILO. Analysis of Child Economic Activity and School Attendance Statistics from National Household or Child Labor Surveys. Original data from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 3 (MICS 3), 2006. Analysis received March 2021. Please see the “Children’s Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions” in the Reference Materials section of this report.
- Isa, Dilara. Child Labor in Cotton Fields. Azattyq, October 29, 2016.
http://rus.azattyq.org/a/detkiy-trud-khlopkovie-polya-maktaaral/28017853.html - ILO CEACR. Individual Observation concerning Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention, 1999 (No. 182) Kazakhstan (ratification: 2003). Published: 2019.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID:3959489:NO - U.S. Embassy- Nur-Sultan. Reporting. January 15, 2020.
- Dilara Isa. A month in the fields to earn money for internet. Schoolchildren in the cotton fields. Radio Azattyk, October 2020.
https://rus.azattyq.org/a/kazakhstan-turkestan-region-child-labour-in-cotton-fields/30894173.html - U.S. Embassy- Astana. Reporting. January 19, 2018.
- KazInform. Cases of illegal child labor uncovered in Kazakhstan. September 27, 2019.
https://www.inform.kz/ru/fakty-nezakonnogo-detskogo-truda-vyyavili-v-kazahstane_a3570117 - Human Rights Watch. Kazakhstan: Children in Institutions Isolated, Abused. July 17, 2019.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/07/17/kazakhstan-children-institutions-isolated-abused - Zakon.kz. Schoolchildren who died in a Zhanaozen cafe were from single-parent families. November 27, 2019.
https://www.zakon.kz/4996527-umershie-v-kafe-zhanaozena-shkolniki.html - Government of Kazakhstan. Labor Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, No. 414-V. Enacted: November 23, 2015.
http://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=38910832 - Nazgul Abzhekenova. Unseen Children: In Astana, concerns about rights of migrants' children. Caravan.kz, October 19, 2018.
https://www.caravan.kz/gazeta/detinevidimki-v-astane-ozabotilis-pravami-detejj-migrantov-490132/ - UNICEF. A situation analysis of children in Kazakhstan. 2019.
https://www.unicef.org/kazakhstan/en/reports/situation-analysis-children-kazakhstan - Human Rights Watch. "On the Margins": Education for children with disabilities in Kazakhstan. March 2019.
https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/kazakhstan0319_web3.pdf - Government of Kazakhstan. The Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, No. 226-V, as amended. Enacted: July 3, 2014. http://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=31575252
- Government of Kazakhstan, Minister of Health and Social Development. Decree No. 944 of December 8, 2015, effective January 1, 2016. (The previous list of hazardous work for minors, Decree No. 391 of 2015 was repealed by Decree 971 of 2015, effective January 1, 2016. There are no substantive changes between Decree 944 and Decree 391). Enacted: December 8, 2015. http://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=35844164
- Government of Kazakhstan. Law No. 561-IV on Military Service and the Status of Military Personnel, as amended. Enacted: February 16, 2012. http://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=31130640
- Government of Kazakhstan. Law No. 345-II on Children's Rights (as amended). Enacted: August 8, 2002.
https://online.zakon.kz/m/Document/?doc_id=1032460 - Government of Kazakhstan. Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Enacted: August 30, 1995.
http://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=1005029#sub_id=100000 - Government of Kazakhstan. Law No. 319-III On Education (as amended). Enacted: July 27, 2007.
http://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=30118747 - U.S. Embassy- Nur-Sultan official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. May 14, 2019.
- Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Education Policy Outlook: Kazakhstan. 2018.
http://www.oecd.org/education/Education-Policy-Outlook-Country-Profile-Kazakhstan-2018.pdf - U.S. Embassy- Astana. Reporting. February 19, 2019.
- ILO CEACR. Direct Request concerning Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) Kazakhstan (ratification: 2001). Published: 2019.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID:3959486:NO - U.S. Embassy- Nur-Sultan official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. July 9, 2020.
- Government of Kazakhstan. Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Administrative Rights Violations. Enacted: 2014. https://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=31577399#pos=0;36144
- Government of Kazakhstan. The Entrepreneurial Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, No. 375-V. As Amended: January 11, 2020.
https://online.zakon.kz/Document/Document.aspx?doc_id=38259854&sublink=0&mode=all&action=print&comments=on&user_comments=on&size=1 - Government of Kazakhstan. Order on the introduction of a moratorium on conducting inspections and preventive control and oversight involving visits in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Enacted: December 2019.
http://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/U1900000229 - Government of Kazakhstan. Information on the realization of ILO recommendations regarding the fulfilment of provisions of Convention 87 "Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention," as well as pertaining to questions raised during the September 28, 2020 online meeting. December 28, 2020. Source on file.
- U.S. Embassy- Nur-Sultan. Reporting, February 11, 2021.
- CIA. The World Factbook. 2021. Please see “Labor Law Enforcement: Sources and Definitions” in the Reference Materials section of this report. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries
- ILO. Strategies and Practice for Labour Inspection. November 2006: GB.297/ESP/3. Please see “Labor Law Enforcement: Sources and Definitions” in the Reference Materials section of this report.
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/gb/docs/gb297/pdf/esp-3.pdf - UN. World Economic Situation and Prospects 2017, Statistical Annex. 2017. Please see “Labor Law Enforcement: Sources and Definitions” in the Reference Materials section of this report.
https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/publication/2017wesp_full_en.pdf - Government of Kazakhstan. Ministry of Labor and Social Protection Decree no. 428 on the introduction of changes in the Decree of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan of 31 March 2006 No. 73-p, "On the creation of the National Coordination Council for Combating the Worst Forms of Child Labor" and approval of the National Action Plan for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor 2020–2022, in accordance with the Convention on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor. Enacted: August 14, 2019. Source on file.
- Government of Kazakhstan. Minutes of the 37th convening of the Inter-Agency Trafficking in Persons Working Group January 17, 2020. Source on file.
- U.S. Embassy- Nur-Sultan. Reporting. November 22, 2019.
- U.S. Embassy- Nur-Sultan. Reporting. November 17, 2020.
- Government of Kazakhstan, Committee for the Protection of Children's Rights. Analytical report on the results of sociological research for the preparation of a Paper on the status of children in the Republic of Kazakhstan November 2020.
https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/bala/documents/details/88345?lang=ru - Government of Kazakhstan, Ombudsman for Children's Rights. Status and Authorities. Accessed February 17, 2021. https://bala-ombudsman.kz/ombudsman/functions/
- Government of Kazakhstan. Information about the implementation of the Action Plan for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor 2020-2022 (based on the results of 2020). News release. February 2021.
https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/enbek/press/article/details/41079?lang=ru - Government of Kazakhstan. Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 609, on the plan of action of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the prevention and fight against crimes related to trafficking in persons for 2018–2020. Enacted: October 1, 2018. Source on file.
- Government of Kazakhstan. Decree No. 156 on Approval of the Roadmap for strengthening protection of the rights of the child, countering domestic violence, and solving the problem of suicide among adolescents for 2020-2023. Enacted: March 30, 2020. https://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=33721914#pos=1;-53
- KazInform. Plan for countering human trafficking developed in Kazakhstan. November 12, 2020.
https://www.inform.kz/ru/proekt-plana-protivodeystviya-torgovle-lyud-mi-razrabotali-v-kazahstane_a3717899 - U.S. Embassy- Nur-Sultan. Reporting. February 24, 2021.
- Government of Kazakhstan. Ministry of Education and Science. State Program of Education Development in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2011–2020. December 7, 2010. www.akorda.kz/upload/SPED.doc
