Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102)

Kazakhstan is on the path to potential ratification of ILO Convention No. 102

Kazakhstan advances toward ratifying ILO Convention No. 102 through consultations, a tripartite validation workshop and strengthened social dialogue.

25 November 2025

ASTANA (ILO News) - Kazakhstan has taken significant steps toward ratifying the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102), through consultations and a tripartite validation workshop organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) on 17-20 November 2025.

On 17 November 2025, a bilateral meeting between the ILO and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MLSPP) was held to discuss the preliminary assessment of the national legislation with the provisions of the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102). During the meeting, ILO experts Luisa Carmona, Legal Officer (SOCPRO), Svetlana Mandzhieva, Labour Law Officer (NORMES), and Fatima Dzgoeva, external consultant, presented the key findings and recommendations of the preliminary report and highlighted the significance of a potential future ratification of this Convention by Kazakhstan.

Convention No. 102 is the only international treaty that provides a systemic and holistic vision of social security, establishes specific rights and defines key parameters for the gradual development of comprehensive social protection systems. While the Convention establishes nine branches of social security, countries can ratify this minimum standard if their system covers at least three social risks, provided that at least one of these is unemployment, old age, employment injury, disability, or death of the family income provider.

During the meeting, both parties confirmed their continued support for the further advancement of the legal assessment in view of a possible ratification of this landmark Convention.

From 18 to 20 November 2025, the ILO hosted capacity-building activities on international social security standards and a tripartite validation workshop during which key stakeholders assessed the compliance of the national legislation and practice with the provisions of Convention No. 102. The event marked an important milestone toward the potential ratification of this Convention and the strengthening of the country's social protection system.

The workshop responded to an official request from the MLSPP to conduct an independent legal assessment of current legislation and practices in the field of social security. More than 30 participants attended the three-day workshop, including representatives from government and quasi-government agencies, as well as social partners, represented by employers and trade unions.

Results and next steps

Participants discussed Kazakhstan's readiness to ratify the seven Parts of the Convention analyzed in the preliminary report, namely: medical care, unemployment benefits, old-age benefits, employment injury benefits, maternity benefits, invalidity benefits and survivors’ benefits, and identified areas requiring legislative revisions to ensure full compliance with the Convention.

The workshop concluded with a document outlining key findings and recommendations, identifying which Parts of the Convention could be formally adopted by the Republic of Kazakhstan if the government and social partners agreed to continue the ratification process, as envisaged in the Roadmap for Decent Work.

This initiative aligns with the ILO's global campaign to promote the ratification of Convention No. 102. Kazakhstan confirmed its commitment to international standards and its willingness to strengthen the legal and institutional framework for social protection.

Almas Kurmanov, Chairman of the Board of JSC "State Social Security Fund," noted that Convention 102 is fundamental, stimulating development for the entire State, and the tripartite partners intend to move forward. He emphasized the fruitful cooperation that has developed between the ILO and the tripartite partners and the comprehensive support the ILO provides in the development of regulatory documents.

Sholpan Abikenova, Deputy Director General of the National Confederation of Employers (Entrepreneurs) of the Republic of Kazakhstan "PARYZ," noted the relevance and timeliness of the issues raised for discussion, which affect the core functions of the State, as well as the solidarity of all tripartite partners in their review and the aspiration to improve the social security system in the country, which meets the interests of all tripartite partners, since any employer is interested in ensuring that the country has the best conditions for business development.

Marat Imash, Chief Technical Inspector for Occupational Safety and Health of the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan, thanked the ILO for organizing such an important event and stressed that the ratification of Convention No. 102 is one of the Federation's strategic priorities, reflected in both the General Agreement on Social Partnership concluded between the Government of Kazakhstan and social partners for 2024-2026 years and the new Federation’s Strategy adopted this year.

Murat Shegirbayev, Chief Specialist of the Department of Social, Economic Protection and Labour of the Kazakhstan Mining and Metallurgical Trade Union "Qazaqmetal Kasipodagy," added that such seminars demonstrate the power of social dialogue and contribute to strengthening social partnership.

The tripartite validation workshop was part of the implementation of the Roadmap for the Promotion of Decent Work, signed by the ILO and tripartite partners in the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2024, with the financial support of the ILO RBSA-funded initiative "Promoting Occupational Safety and Health through Social Dialogue in the Mining Industry of Kazakhstan."