New work schedule in Astana: What the labor ministry says

Tengrinews.kz - Chairman of the Labor Inspection Committee under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, Yerbolat Abulkhatin, was asked about the effectiveness of the new working hours adopted by the ministry.
“At the beginning of last month, the Ministry of Labor switched to a new schedule, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. How effective has this measure been? Have there been any difficulties coordinating with other agencies that still operate on a 9:00 a.m. schedule? And how has the change affected employees — any challenges?” a journalist asked during a government briefing.
Abulkhatin responded that the change has had a positive impact on the ministry’s operations.

“For example, in the mornings we get to work without traffic. If you need to be at the office by 8:00 a.m., you leave home around 7:30 a.m. The streets are empty — it’s become easier in that sense. And by 5:30 p.m., we’re done, people leave early, spend more time with family, and can take care of personal matters,” he said.

According to him, no problems have arisen in coordination with other government bodies. He also noted that the Astana city maslikhat is considering introducing a flexible work schedule for institutions across the capital.

“Employers set the schedule at their own discretion based on convenience. There are no issues, and there haven’t been any complaints from staff — on the contrary, they’re happy to leave work earlier,” Abulkhatin added.

Journalists also pointed out that the school year starts in September and asked how employees with school-aged children would manage. The committee head replied that those needing to drop off or pick up children will be allowed to start their workday later, around 9:00 or 10:00 a.m., as long as they complete the required 8 hours.
Earlier, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection explained how a potential shift to a four-day workweek could affect salaries.