The law, which will protect the rights of remote workers, was adopted at a meeting of the Senate, the Upper House of the Kazakh Parliament. Speaking during the consideration of the bill, Member of the Senate Nariman Turegaliyev noted that telecommuting is now becoming a global trend. The lack of proper legislative regulation in the transition of citizens to remote working creates certain difficulties in the field of labor relations. Now, clear regulations, the consolidation of the rights and obligations of the parties will help to protect workers’ rights. Among the novelties are working time records of staff members and the employer's obligation to provide the employees with equipment and means of communication. Turegaliyev said that in 2020, 70% of Kazakh citizens switched to work-from-home mode due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“In accordance with the rule set out in the bill, the need to provide employees with means of communication and to reimburse the costs of temporary remote work during the state of emergency, the announcement and introduction of restrictive measures, including quarantine, is determined by the employer's act. In case the employee uses his funds on an ongoing basis, the employer may pay compensation, the amount, procedure and terms of payment of which shall be determined by agreement of the parties,” said Nariman Turegaliyev, Member of Senate, Upper House of Kazakh Parliament.
Now such concepts as ‘remote work’ and ‘hybrid remote work model’ have been introduced into the labor legislation. Moreover, if an employee performs all the work he is expected to, the salary must be paid in full.
Translation by Assem Zhanmukhanova
Editing by Saule Mukhamejanova
