In Kazakhstan, more than 70% of teenagers worked without an official employment contract during the last holiday period. Furthermore, 51% of minors worked in the evening or at night, and 10% faced delayed payments or no pay at all.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT REPORTED
As reported by Zakon.kz, this was stated at a government meeting on 26 May 2026 by the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population, Askarbek Yertayev.
The minister said that there are 1.7 million teenagers living in Kazakhstan. The largest number of minors is concentrated in the southern macro-region — in the Turkestan Region (236,600), Almaty Region (143,500), and Zhambyl Region (120,000). Among cities, the leaders are Almaty (161,800), Astana (107,000), and Shymkent (112,000).
According to the head of the Ministry of Labour, 5,300 students are currently employed. Teenagers most often work in trade, services, entertainment, leisure, and catering. Among the most common professions are landscaping workers, couriers, waiters, sales assistants, assistant chefs, and animators.
HOW TEENAGERS CAN OFFICIALLY FIND WORK
Askarbek Yertayev reminded that teenagers can find legal employment through the Enbek.kz platform, which has had a special section called "My Summer Holidays" since 2025.
Through the platform, schoolchildren and students can register from the age of 14, post their CVs, and search for vacancies independently. For teenagers under 16, registration is carried out by their legal representatives — parents or guardians.
According to the ministry, since the beginning of 2026, 1,024 students have been employed through the platform, and in 2025 — 4,552.
The minister emphasised that the platform provides for official job searching and the drawing up of mandatory employment contracts.
HOW MUCH CAN TEENAGERS EARN
Teenagers can also participate in community work, which does not require specialised education.
As Askarbek Yertayev noted, in this case, minors can receive no less than 24 MCI per month. In 2026, this amounts to 103,800 tenge.
WHAT VIOLATIONS WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE HOLIDAYS
According to the minister, a significant proportion of teenagers worked unofficially during the last holiday period.
Cases of working in the evening and at night were also recorded, despite existing restrictions. Additionally, some minors faced irregular payments or no pay at all.
The head of the Ministry of Labour reminded that the law provides for the protection of the rights of minor workers. This refers to restrictions on working hours, a ban on night work and work in hazardous conditions, as well as the need for parental consent for the employment of children.
WHAT MEASURES ARE PLANNED
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population has stated its intention to strengthen control over the employment of minors.
According to Askarbek Yertayev, it is planned to introduce digital monitoring of teenage employment based on the Labour Risk Map at enterprises with more than 10 employees.
The ministry also intends to strengthen control over informal employment in construction, agriculture, and the service sector, where, it is noted, there are elevated risks of violations.
The minister stated that the main task is to bring the employment of minors out of the informal sector and ensure a unified approach to regulation and the prevention of violations.