Courts and unions fail to protect workers in Kazakhstan

August 4, 2026

Kazakhstan experienced widespread labor protests in June 2026 across multiple industries, highlighting persistent issues with workers' rights despite recent government reforms. While President Tokayev's administration has introduced Labor Code amendments claiming to protect workers, independent union activists and legal experts argue these changes are superficial and the system remains heavily biased toward employers. The country's legal framework creates nearly insurmountable barriers to forming independent unions and organizing legal strikes, requiring support from two-thirds of workers and registration in half the country's regions.

Who is affected

Workers at Kazakhmys mines and phosphorus plants who participated in strikes
Five workers from an oil company in Mangistau who were fired after joining an independent union
Members of independent trade unions, particularly the Fuel and Energy Sector Union led by Kospan Kosshygulov
Workers across various industries including oil extraction and filmmaking who cannot form legally recognized unions
Labor activists and organizers facing repression
The Amanat Commonwealth of Trade Unions (smallest nationally recognized association)
Workers attempting to use legal dispute resolution processes

What action is being taken

Labor protests are erupting across Kazakhstan, from mines to industrial plants
Independent trade unions are attempting to establish local branches at various companies
Workers are filing court cases challenging wrongful terminations, though these cases proceed through the court system (including courts of cassation)
Trade unions are attempting to address workplace issues like severe understaffing
State Labor Inspectorate inspectors are conducting limited workplace reviews based on predefined checklists

Why it matters

This situation matters because Kazakhstan's labor rights framework fundamentally fails to protect workers despite cosmetic legal reforms. The absence of an independent judiciary that can fairly adjudicate labor disputes, combined with structural barriers to forming unions and organizing legal strikes, leaves workers with no effective legal recourse when facing employer abuses. The recent constitutional amendments that removed the right to strike and prioritized domestic law over international treaties represent a significant regression in labor rights, contradicting International Court of Justice rulings on freedom of association. This creates a system where spontaneous, "illegal" strikes become workers' only option for addressing grievances, perpetuating cycles of labor unrest and government repression, particularly following the violent crackdown during the Qandy Qantar protests in January 2022.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices