Workplace safety concerns are mounting in Kyrgyzstan after officials confirmed that 19 construction workers have died on job sites since the beginning of 2025.

The figures were disclosed during parliamentary hearings on the draft law “On Labor Protection.” Cholponkul Madirov, deputy head of the Labor Legislation Control and Supervision Service, said the fatalities occurred while workers were carrying out their duties at construction sites across the country, The Caspian Post reports via Kyrgyz media.

Madirov said that the Service is limited to conducting scheduled inspections of working conditions. Continuous on-site oversight - from excavation to project completion - falls under the responsibility of the Construction Ministry’s inspection bodies, which are tasked with monitoring labor conditions and safety compliance during active building work.

“Unfortunately, we can only intervene after an accident has already happened,” he told lawmakers.

Despite its restricted authority, the Service sends formal safety notices and guidelines to construction companies at the start of each year, reminding them of mandatory compliance with occupational safety standards.