ILO delegation visits Kazakhstan, takes part in VII Astana Economic Forum

“The Astana Forum has become a major annual event to showcase international exchange of knowledge and experience, to boost new ideas and to foster international cooperation,” Dimitrina Dimitrova told the panel session “Social partnership. Allocation of responsibility to ensure productive employment and the expansion of decent work.”

“Within the frame of the Astana Forum last year, during the session organized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, we discussed the employment challenge and what to do about it,” she said. “This year, this session is dedicated to the question how to do this better. The ILO welcomes the focus placed by the Ministry on social partnership as a major tool to develop policies in times of crisis.”

ILO Moscow Senior International Labour Standards Specialist Alain Pelce also spoke at the panel session. He focused on the ILO principles and standards that precondition effective social dialogue paying special attention to freedom of association.

“The ILO support is often solicited to help develop national labour law regulating social partnership in line with the ILO conventions. Last year the ILO received a request from the government of Kazakhstan and provided comments on the trade union draft law that is currently in the Parliament,” said Dimitrina Dimitrova.

During her visit to Astana Dimitrina Dimitrova held meetings with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Gulshara Abdykalikova and Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population Tamara Duissenova to discuss priorities for future cooperation between the ILO and Kazakhstan.