Marchenko keeps advocating raise of retirement age in Kazakhstan

Gregory Marchenko, Governor of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, keeps advocating the necessity to raise the retirement age in Kazakhstan. He said that the recent statement of Kazakhstan Minister of Labor and Social Protection Serik Abdenov about unviability of raising the retirement age in Kazakhstan did not make him change his mind, Tengrinews.kz reports. “The whole community got disturbed, especially women, after your recent statements on the retirement age. Shortly after that you met with the President and he instructed you to adjust the retirement legislation. Has anything changed with the appointment of the youngest minister (Minister of Labor and Social Protection Serik Abdenov, 35) in the Cabinet? What can you tell us?” Majilis (lower chamber) deputy Rauan Shaekin asked Marchenko during discussion of the draft law on the state budget at the extended meeting of Nur Otan party. Marchenko declared that he did not change his mind: “The National Bank is independent. We had good working relations with the previous government as well. As for the retirement age issue, we submitted our suggestions to the previous Prime-Minister and Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. There is also the third suggestion that comes from several pension funds. They are finishing it and will submit it shortly. You have to understand that it is not the National Bank that defines the policies in this sector. Everything will be done as it should be. All these three options will be discussed at the government meeting on economic policies. The government will then make its suggestions on changing the legislation to the Parliament,” Gregory Marchenko said. By Gulnara Zhandagulova