Understanding statutory leave entitlements is crucial for employers and employees in Kazakhstan. Kazakh labor law outlines various types of leave, including annual vacation, public holidays, sick leave, and parental leave, all designed to support the well-being and work-life balance of employees. Employers need to comply with these regulations to ensure fair labor practices and avoid potential legal issues.
Navigating the specifics of Kazakhstan's leave policies can be complex. This guide provides a detailed overview of the key leave entitlements in Kazakhstan for 2025, offering clarity on eligibility, duration, and compensation.
Annual Vacation Leave
In Kazakhstan, employees are legally entitled to annual paid vacation leave. The minimum annual leave entitlement is 24 calendar days.
- This entitlement applies to all employees regardless of their position or employment type (full-time, part-time, etc.).
- Employees can take their annual leave in full or divide it into parts by agreement with the employer. However, one part of the leave must be at least 14 calendar days.
- Employers must grant annual paid leave every year. Failure to do so is a violation of labor law.
- Employees are entitled to receive their average salary for the period of their annual leave. Payment must be made no later than three days before the start of the leave.
- Employees can carry forward unused vacation days to the next year, but accumulation of leave for more than two years is generally not allowed.
Public Holidays
Kazakhstan observes several public holidays each year. These days are typically non-working days, allowing employees to take time off. If a public holiday falls on a weekend, the following working day is usually declared a day off. Here's a list of public holidays in Kazakhstan for 2025:
| Holiday Name | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1-2 |
| International Women's Day | March 8 |
| Nauryz Meyrami | March 21-23 |
| Kazakhstan People's Unity Day | May 1 |
| Defender of the Fatherland Day | May 7 |
| Victory Day | May 9 |
| Capital City Day | July 6 |
| Constitution Day | August 30 |
| Kurban Ait, first day | Date varies* |
| Day of the First President | December 1 |
| Independence Day | December 16-17 |
*The date for Kurban Ait is determined according to the Islamic calendar and may vary each year.
Sick Leave
Employees in Kazakhstan are entitled to sick leave if they are temporarily unable to work due to illness or injury.
- To qualify for sick leave, an employee must provide a medical certificate issued by a healthcare provider.
- The amount of sick leave pay depends on the employee's length of service and the reason for the illness.
- Sick leave is typically paid by the employer for the first three days, after which payments are made from the Social Insurance Fund.
- The amount paid from the Social Insurance Fund is usually a percentage of the employee's average salary, often around 60-80%, but this can vary.
- There is no statutory limit to the amount of sick leave an employee can take, but the duration of payments from the Social Insurance Fund may be limited.
Parental Leave
Kazakhstan provides several types of parental leave to support new parents, including maternity leave, paternity leave, and adoption leave.
Maternity Leave
- Pregnant employees are entitled to maternity leave, which consists of prenatal and postnatal leave.
- The duration of maternity leave is typically 70 calendar days before the expected date of childbirth and 56 calendar days after childbirth. In cases of complicated births or multiple births, the postnatal leave is extended to 70 calendar days.
- Maternity leave is fully paid by the state through social insurance funds. The amount paid is based on the employee's average salary.
- Employees are required to provide a medical certificate to their employer to qualify for maternity leave.
Paternity Leave
- Fathers are entitled to unpaid leave at the time of a child’s birth.
- The duration of paternity leave is usually short, often a few days.
- Fathers are also eligible for childcare leave, which can be taken by either parent.
Childcare Leave
- Either parent (mother or father) or another family member who is directly caring for the child can take childcare leave until the child reaches the age of three years.
- During childcare leave, the employee's job is protected, and they can return to their position at any time before the child turns three.
- Childcare leave is typically unpaid, but the employee may be eligible for social benefits from the state.
Adoption Leave
- Employees who adopt a child are entitled to leave similar to maternity leave.
- The duration and conditions of adoption leave are generally the same as those for maternity leave, providing adoptive parents with time to bond with their new child.
Other Types of Leave
In addition to annual vacation, public holidays, sick leave, and parental leave, Kazakh labor law also provides for other types of leave.
Bereavement Leave
- Employees are typically granted a few days of paid or unpaid leave in the event of the death of a close family member (e.g., spouse, parent, child).
- The specific duration and conditions of bereavement leave may vary depending on the employer's internal policies.
Study Leave
- Employees who are pursuing education or training may be entitled to study leave to attend classes or take exams.
- The duration and conditions of study leave are usually determined by agreement between the employer and employee.
- Study leave may be paid or unpaid, depending on the employer's policies and the relevance of the education to the employee's job.
Sabbatical Leave
- Sabbatical leave is not legally mandated in Kazakhstan, but some employers may offer it as a benefit to long-term employees.
- Sabbatical leave is typically unpaid and allows employees to take an extended period of time off work for personal or professional development.
- The duration and conditions of sabbatical leave are determined by the employer's policies.
