Kazakh Government approved employment program till 2020

Introducing the draft law Kazakh Minister of Labor and Social Protection Gulshara Abdykalikova noted that the program's main purpose was to increase household income through the promotion of sustainable and effective employment.

The program is aimed at providing training, employment and assistance in organizing private businesses at the place of residence. In the absence of such opportunities the program is to facilitate the voluntary relocation to economically successful places. The program implementation will consist of three directions: training and employment assistance to self-employed, unemployed and low-income population in the labor market; promoting entrepreneurship in rural areas; increasing labor mobility.

According to the Minister, the program will be realized in three stages: 2011 (development of implementation mechanisms and legal framework), 2012-2015 and 2016-2020.

Till 2015 it is planned to cover 1.5 million people with the new program. Poverty level will be reduced to 6 percent (from the current 8.2 percent). The level of unemployment will not exceed 5.5 percent.