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Tengrinews.kz - A Kazakh lawmaker has proposed shifting the start of the workday for employees of central government bodies and state-owned enterprises to as early as 7:00 a.m. in a bid to reduce peak-hour traffic in Astana and other major cities.
The initiative came from MP Asylbek Nuralin, who submitted a formal request to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, citing persistent congestion, overcrowded public transport, and mounting pressure on urban road infrastructure.
"A distinguishing feature of Astana and Almaty is their rapid agglomeration growth, accompanied by pendulum migration and uncontrolled urbanization," Nuralin stated.
He warned that Astana’s population could soon hit two million, while most jobs and infrastructure are concentrated in the city center, resulting in severe rush-hour gridlock.
He pointed out that more than half of the capital’s working population is employed in government institutions, making them a logical starting point for a schedule shift. Citing research that supports higher productivity in the early morning, he suggested moving the start time from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 or 8:00 a.m. for civil servants and public sector workers.
Beyond adjusting working hours, Nuralin called for broader reforms to Kazakhstan’s transport strategy. His proposals include prioritizing public transit, expanding bike and pedestrian infrastructure, restricting parking, developing signal-free highways, and constructing multi-level interchanges and park-and-ride facilities at city entrances.
He also proposed forming an interagency task force, increasing the transport modernization budget, and enhancing coordination between central and local authorities for urban planning.
"Our goal should be sustainable mobility, reduced reliance on private cars, and a better urban environment," Nuralin said.
Astana’s city administration has already been considering a similar change for certain organizations. In response to the proposal, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection clarified that early start times are legally permissible as long as they comply with Kazakhstan’s labor laws, including maintaining the standard 8-hour workday and 40-hour workweek.
"No adverse effects were found in studies regarding changes in working hours," said Yerbolat Abulkhatin, head of the Labor Inspection Committee.
