Holiday leave
In Kazakhstan, employees are entitled to a minimum of 24 calendar days of paid vacation, as stipulated by the Labor Code. This does not include official holidays.
Annual Leave Accrual
Throughout the year of employment, annual leave accrues. Employees have the option to carry over any unused leave to the following year. However, it's generally expected that this leave be used within three years of accrual. In exceptional circumstances, the carry over period may be extended.
Compensation for Unused Leave
In the event of employment termination, employees are entitled to compensation for any unused accrued vacation time. The Labor Code prohibits the full or partial replacement of annual leave with monetary compensation, except in cases of employment termination.
Extended Leave for Specific Conditions
Additional paid vacation days may be granted to employees working in hazardous or harmful conditions. The number of additional leave days is dependent on the specifics of the work conditions.
The Labor Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the main legal document that outlines these employment regulations. The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the official government body that oversees labor regulations and policies.
Public holidays
Kazakhstan celebrates a variety of national, secular, and religious holidays.
National Holidays
Kazakhstan's national holidays include:
- New Year's Day on January 1st and 2nd.
- International Women's Day on March 8th.
- Nauryz Meyramy, the celebration of the Kazakh New Year, from March 21st to 23rd.
- Kazakhstan People's Unity Day on May 1st.
- Defender of the Fatherland Day on May 7th.
- Victory Day on May 9th.
- Capital City Day, also known as Astana Day, on July 6th.
- Constitution Day on August 30th.
- First President of Kazakhstan Day on December 1st.
- Independence Day on December 16th.
Religious Holidays
Religious holidays observed in Kazakhstan include:
- Orthodox Christmas on January 7th, celebrated by Kazakhstan's Orthodox Christian population.
- Qurban Ait, also known as Eid al-Adha or the "Feast of Sacrifice," a significant Islamic holiday. The date of this holiday varies according to the Islamic lunar calendar.
Important Notes
The dates of Islamic holidays are based on the lunar Hijri calendar and can vary slightly from year to year. For the most accurate information, refer to the official announcements by the government of Kazakhstan.
Types of leave
In Kazakhstan, the Labor Code outlines a variety of leaves available to employees.
Annual Paid Leave
Employees are entitled to a minimum of 24 calendar days of paid annual leave each year. Those engaged in certain types of work, such as hazardous conditions or irregular working hours, may be entitled to additional paid leave. Leave accrues throughout the year of employment. Unused leave can generally be carried over to the next year but should be used within three years of accrual, with some exceptions.
Social Leave
Employees can request unpaid leave for personal reasons, although approval is at the employer's discretion. Employees pursuing education may be entitled to a combination of paid and unpaid leave for exams, coursework, etc. Female employees are entitled to paid maternity leave, as well as additional unpaid leave for childcare for up to three years.
Sick Leave
Employees are entitled to paid sick leave upon providing a medical certificate. The duration depends on the nature of the illness and is determined by healthcare professionals.
Other Types of Leave
Short-term paid leave may be granted for events like marriage or the death of a close relative.
The primary legal document governing these labor regulations in Kazakhstan is the Labor Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the official government body responsible for labor regulations and policies.