Kazakhstan Formalizes Employment Rules for Workers in Qatar

The Kazakh parliament has ratified an intergovernmental agreement between Kazakhstan and Qatar regulating the employment of Kazakh workers in the Gulf state.

Labor and Social Protection Minister Svetlana Zhakupova noted that the agreement was originally signed on February 14, 2024, during Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Qatar, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Its main objective is to ensure the legal and social protection of Kazakh citizens working in Qatar.

To achieve this, the agreement establishes clear procedures for:

Selection of candidates - receiving applications from the Qatari side and informing the public through Kazakhstan’s Centers for Employment and Migration;

Hiring and employment terms - concluding employment contracts for Kazakh citizens based on a standardized agreement that defines their rights and protections while working in Qatar.

An annex to the agreement specifies the standard employment contract, which cannot be altered by employers. It guarantees that Kazakh workers will receive:

Accommodation or a housing allowance;

Free transportation to and from the workplace, or a transportation allowance;

Medical care in accordance with Qatari law;

Airfare coverage at the start and end of the contract, including for annual leave.

The agreement was ratified by Qatar on November 29, 2024, finalizing the legal framework for Kazakh citizens’ employment in the country.