Employment - The Times Of Central Asia

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Kazakhstan to Train Workforce for Future Nuclear Power Plants

Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant (NPP) is expected to create permanent employment for approximately 2,000 people, with an additional 10,000 workers involved during its construction. This announcement was made by Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev during a recent government meeting. The country plans to commission its first NPP by 2035. A shortlist of potential builders includes four international companies: China’s CNNC, Russia’s Rosatom, South Korea’s KHNP, and France’s EDF. Authorities have also suggested the possibility of forming a consortium involving multiple countries to leverage diverse technological solutions. Alongside these efforts, Kazakhstan intends to independently train the specialists required for NPP operations. Minister Satkaliyev highlighted plans to establish specialized training programs in domestic colleges to develop skills for roles such as dosimetrists, steam turbine equipment mechanics, nuclear power plant maintenance and repair specialists, and IT specialists for nuclear facilities. Practical training will be conducted at the National Nuclear Center and the Institute of Nuclear Physics. “By 2030, the NPP construction project will create around 5,000 jobs, peaking at approximately 10,000 jobs in 2032. Once operational, the first plant will provide at least 2,000 permanent positions,” Satkaliyev stated. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan is accelerating the construction timeline for the NPP, located in the Almaty region, and plans to select a contractor in the first half of this year. During the government meeting, which coincided with the “Year of Working Professions” initiative, Satkaliyev also addressed the broader labor demand in Kazakhstan’s energy sector. The industry is expected to require over 16,000 additional workers, including power engineers, welders, fitters, gas cutters, and electricians, by 2030. The country’s energy sector currently employs 303,000 people across 1,600 enterprises, with 99 new projects planned over the next five years. To attract and retain talent, the Ministry of Energy aims to achieve an annual 15% wage increase for production personnel in energy-producing companies. Meanwhile, Talgat Yergaliyev, Chairman of the Union of Builders of Kazakhstan (UBC), has called for simplifying the hiring process for foreign labor to address workforce shortages in Kazakhstan’s construction sector.

Economy Employment Shadow Economy Labour market

Every Third Kazakhstani Works Informally or Hides Their Income

Approximately one-third of working Kazakhstanis are employed informally, lacking social guarantees, labor protections, and pensions. This is according to the research “Features of Labor Market and Employment in Kazakhstan” by Adam Research. The findings, analyzed by the Energyprom agency, shed light on the scope of informal employment in the country. The survey revealed that 36.4% of respondents acknowledged working in the shadow economy. This figure is higher among men (37.6%) than women (34.9%). Informal employment is categorized into three main types: Work without a labor contract: 16.6% Shadow entrepreneurship: 13.6% Part-time work without registration: 6.2% Young people and retirees are disproportionately represented in these informal sectors. The study, conducted via telephone survey of adults in all 17 regions of Kazakhstan, found that southern areas like the Turkestan and Almaty regions, along with Shymkent, had the highest rates of informal employment. Conversely, East Kazakhstan and Ulytau regions recorded the lowest rates. Informal workers are often individuals with secondary education working outside their specialty. Their earnings vary widely: Those without labor contracts typically earn up to 100,000 tenge ($190) per month. Shadow entrepreneurs may earn over 600,000 tenge ($1,130). Many struggle financially. Among respondents paid “in envelopes,” nearly 27% reported insufficient income for basic necessities. The Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan reported 1.2 million informally employed citizens in 2023. Of these: 682,500 worked in legal enterprises without formal registration. 473,200 were employed in the informal sector without patents or tax payments. This group constitutes 12.8% of Kazakhstan's total employed population. Labor Minister Svetlana Zhakupova identified informal employment as the second most significant labor market challenge, after job scarcity. She highlighted discrepancies between official labor remuneration fund data and pension savings. In 2023, the labor remuneration fund was valued at 38 trillion tenge, yet pension contributions accounted for only 20 trillion tenge. Additionally, labor remuneration makes up just 30% of Kazakhstan’s GDP, significantly lower than the OECD average of 50%. The largest discrepancies were observed in the trade, agriculture, and real estate sectors.

Social protection Labour market Women's rights Employment Legislation

Tajikistan Seeks to Reduce the List of Prohibited Professions for Women

Tajikistan is taking steps to further reduce the list of professions prohibited for women, cutting the number from 334 to 194 in 2024. This initiative aims to expand women’s access to employment opportunities in industries previously deemed unsuitable. According to Shakhnoza Nodiri, Deputy Minister of Labor, Migration, and Employment of Tajikistan, the decision aligns with efforts to modernize production, automate processes, and enhance workplace safety, thereby making previously restricted jobs accessible to women. The list of banned professions was initially established to protect women’s health from the risks of heavy and hazardous work. However, it is increasingly viewed as a barrier to women’s professional growth. The recent changes are informed by international standards and the recommendations of the European Union, particularly to align with GSP+ preferences, which promote gender equality in the labor force. “By revising this list, we are enabling women to access new opportunities and strengthen their economic position,” Nodiri emphasized. Previously, the list included 336 prohibited professions, such as work in underground mines and other roles involving hazardous conditions. With advancements in technology, automation, and improved workplace conditions, 142 professions have been deemed safe for women. However, restrictions remain for roles involving particularly heavy or harmful work. Data from the Labor and Employment Agency show that in 2024, 29,296 women were employed, marking a 1.4% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This reflects growing opportunities for women in the labor market. The government plans to continue reducing the list of prohibited professions, aiming to allow women to participate fully in all sectors of the national economy. Article 216 of the Labor Code of Tajikistan prohibits women from working in heavy and underground industries. Employers who violate these regulations face administrative fines. Ongoing labor law reforms seek to strike a balance between safeguarding women’s health and ensuring their right to work. As Tajikistan modernizes its labor policies, the country moves closer to achieving a more inclusive and equitable workforce.

Economy officials Migrants Bishkek Employment Migration

Kyrgyz Authorities Urge Migrants to Return Home From Russia

Kyrgyzstan's presidential spokesperson Askat Alagozov has urged Kyrgyz citizens who have gone to work in Russia to return and work at home. However, only some people share the government's position on the issue. Alagozov noted that the country desperately needs construction and textile workers. “Of course, the salary you expect will be the same as what you get in Russia. But, most importantly, it is better to work in your homeland and near your family. Come and work in your own country,” Alagozov wrote on social media. Alagozov published the Ministry of Labor and Social Development hotline number, where citizens can get help with employment. In comments to the post, citizens noted that salaries in Russia are higher than in Kyrgyzstan. A migrant in Russia receives an average of 80 to 200 thousand KGS ($950 - 2,350), while in Kyrgyzstan, the average salary is 30 to 50 thousand KGS ($350 - 600). “90% of Kyrgyz migrate to buy an apartment. Working here [in Kyrgyzstan], it is impossible to buy a house. The most important factor is migrants' need for housing,” one of Alagozov's followers said. As of August 1, 57,500 unemployed citizens were registered at the labor exchange. According to the National Statistical Committee, registered unemployment decreased by 21% over the past year. The Ministry of Labor and Social Development also claims that more than 230,000 citizens across the country have been employed over the past few years, while 58,000 have received vocational training. Meanwhile, workers registered at the labor exchange told The Times of Central Asia that the Kyrgyz labor market is not as good as the authorities make it out to be. To earn money, people have to take any job offered. “We are standing here on Lev Tolstoy Street, and everyone in Bishkek knows you can find workers if you come here. People here take on any work: construction and landscaping, concrete work, unloading, and transport work,” said a construction worker named Ulukbek. Permanent work is hard to find in the city, he said. “I can earn 1,500-2,000 KGS (US $18) daily, but not always, and sometimes you don't make any money. There is a mafia here; no one will give you a good job for nothing. There is massive competition in the warm seasons. In summer, people stand on both sides of the road, and there is more business to be had,” Ulukbek explained. Talk of a shortage of qualified construction workers in Kyrgyzstan began during the recent construction boom.

Employment Agricultural Produce USAID Foreign Investment

USAID Equips Mega Fruit Storage Facility in South Kyrgyzstan

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has helped Kyrgyzstan’s Nookat Almasy Cooperative open the largest cold storage facility in the Nookat district of the southern Osh region. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Bakyt Torobaev and USAID Mission Director in the Kyrgyz Republic Kaya Adams attended the facility’s opening ceremony. As reported by the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan, the new facility will generate 200 full-time jobs and assist local farmers in marketing and expanding sales of their produce. Thanks to cooling equipment worth $78,400 from USAID, the Nookat Almasy Cooperative’s new facility can now store locally grown apples and raspberries for up to four months. By extending their shelf life and enabling farmers to sell at a higher price when market conditions improve, the enhanced storage will help maintain market stability and ensure a reliable and consistent food supply throughout the year. Since 2018, the U.S. government has helped establish over 20 new cold storage facilities in southern Kyrgyzstan, more than doubling capacity to reach 12,500 tons, decreasing food spoilage by 40%, and creating income-generating activities for over 4,000 local farmers.

Employment Oil and Gas International investment Oil refinery

Kyrgyz-Turkish Oil Refinery Nears Completion in South Kyrgyzstan

On July 8, Minister of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic, Taalaibek Ibraev inspected the construction of the Kyrgyz-Turk K-OilGas oil refinery in the village of Kok-Talaa in the southern Batken region. An agreement between Kyrgyztransneftegaz (Kyrgyzstan) and Kyrgyz-Turk K-OilGas (Turkey) on the joint development of the North Sokh and Chongara Galcha oil fields was signed back in March 2023. According to General Director of Kyrgyztransneftegaz Aibek Chodonov, over 90% of the refinery’s construction has now been completed, and preparatory work is currently underway at four oil wells. The commission of the refinery is scheduled for the end of September. Investment in the project amounts to $91 million, and once in operation, the refinery will have a daily capacity of 500 tons of oil products. At present, the refinery has 51 employees, including 10 Turkish specialists and 41 local citizens, with 150 new jobs on the horizon from October. Kyrgyzstan has some oil deposits in the south of the country but today, imports almost all of its oil products (gasoline and diesel) from Russia.