Number of days off in March may increase – justice minister

Tengrinews.kz – The number of public holidays in Kazakhstan may increase in March. Minister of Justice Erlan Sarsembayev announced this at a briefing in the Mazhilis.

A nationwide referendum will be held in Kazakhstan on 15 March. If the majority of citizens support the draft of the new Constitution, this day may become a new public holiday and non-working day in Kazakhstan instead of 30 August.

“Article 94 (in the draft of the new Constitution) is devoted precisely to this issue; paragraph two states: ‘The day of adoption of the Constitution at the nationwide referendum is a state holiday.’ That is, if the people vote for and support the new version of the Constitution, 15 March will be considered Constitution Day. Accordingly, 30 August, which you have just mentioned, will lose its force. We will proceed from the decision that will be made on 15 March by our citizens,” Erlan Sarsembayev said.

Journalists then clarified whether this means that there will no longer be Constitution Day on 30 August this year.

“That all depends on the results of the nationwide referendum,” the minister replied briefly.

Earlier, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection confirmed that in 2026 one public holiday may be cancelled in Kazakhstan. This will happen if the new Constitution is adopted at the upcoming referendum on 15 March.

“In the event that a different date for the state holiday Constitution Day is established by law, 30 August will lose its status as a state holiday from the date the corresponding law enters into force,” the ministry stated.

It should be noted that in 2026 Kazakhstanis were expecting 119 days off and 246 working days. Now, this year may end up with one public holiday fewer.