Occupational safety and health
Kazakhstan employers take the lead on occupational safety and health: High-level event marks World Safety and Health Day at Work 2025
29 April 2025
In a strong demonstration of leadership and commitment to safety and health at work, the Confederation of Employers of Kazakhstan (Paryz), with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO), organised a high-level event in Astana to mark the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
The event launched a new round of the ILO's Employers for OSH (EOSH) training programme, tailored for Paryz members. It also featured a public thematic session of the National Tripartite Commission on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), bringing together key government, employer and worker stakeholders.
Paryz played a central and proactive role - not only in convening the event, but also in signalling that OSH is a top priority on the employers' agenda. By initiating this working-level event, Paryz not only demonstrated its readiness to take the lead in practical, results-oriented action in response to recent concerning trends in workplace safety in Kazakhstan, but also provided employers with opportunity to express their concerns as well as to share their best practices in the field of OSH, both of which were the missing links in the national OSH system. With this Paryz rendered themself a key player and a meeting point for businesses across the country when it comes to OSH policies and practices.
The event was attended by senior national figures, including the Deputy Prime Minister and several members of parliament, reflecting the critical importance of OSH on the national political agenda.
Vladimir Curovic of the ILO's Bureau for Employers' Activities (ACT/EMP) emphasized the importance of treating OSH as a strategic investment. He noted that effective OSH practices directly contribute to business sustainability, worker well-being and national productivity.
The ILO was also represented by its OSH specialist and the Chief Technical Adviser of an OSH-focused project, further demonstrating the Organization's full support for national efforts.
The ILO support to this event is part of a broader ILO strategy to help Kazakhstan build safer, healthier and more productive workplaces and ensure that work-related injuries and fatalities become a thing of the past. The leadership of Paryz and the active participation of its members will be key to making this vision a reality.