New rules for public holidays proposed in Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz – Mazhilis deputy Kenzhegul Seitzhan has proposed improving legislation related to the rescheduling of public holidays. He sent the corresponding parliamentary inquiry to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.

According to current Kazakh legislation, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection has the authority to shift public holidays to other dates if necessary for the efficient use of working time. However, as noted by Deputy Seitzhan, such decisions are often made too late. For example, the decree to move the day off from Sunday, January 5, 2025, to Friday, January 3, was issued on November 21, 2024. Similarly, the decision to shift the day off from Saturday, May 4, 2024, to Wednesday, May 8, was made only 17 days in advance.

“This practice, where decisions are made just two weeks or a month and a half beforehand, is somewhat harmful to economic entities,” the deputy stated.

As a solution, Seitzhan proposes approving a schedule for holiday shifts two years in advance. For instance, this year the rescheduling of public holidays could be confirmed through the end of 2027. According to the deputy, this would allow businesses to build long-term plans and citizens to organize vacations and family events well in advance.

Earlier, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection provided information on the rescheduling of public holidays in Kazakhstan for 2025. The full calendar of holidays, days off, and working days can be found at the link.