Gender Policy

The Gender Commission of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan plays a pivotal role in promoting the principles of social justice and comprehensively improving the status of working women across the country. This activity holds strategic importance, given that women constitute 54% of the total trade union membership (845,083 out of 1.5 million individuals). The Commission's efforts are entirely dedicated to protecting women's labor rights, ensuring genuine gender equality, and effectively countering any forms of workplace discrimination.

As part of implementing its established course, the Federation of Trade Unions consistently deploys the OUPK Gender Policy Concept and the specialized program "Zero Tolerance for Violence in the World of Work". One of the hallmark achievements has been securing a substantial representation of women within leadership bodies: they occupy 20% of the seats in the General Council and 22% of the seats in the Executive Committee of the FPRK. This structural inclusion guarantees women's direct participation in strategic decision-making.

The 2024–2025 Period: New Institutional Milestones and the First Forum

This phase was marked by large-scale practical initiatives and major updates to the Federation's statutory documents, solidifying the modern status of the Commission.

April 2024: The inaugural Forum of Working Women of Kazakhstan took place, marking a critical step toward ensuring equal opportunities. A unique sociological study on the status of working women in the republic, based on an extensive survey of over 2,000 respondents, was presented during the platform.
July 2025: Pursuant to the amendments to the organization's Constitution approved by the XXVII Congress of the Federation of Trade Unions, the Commission on Working Women's Issues was officially renamed the Gender Commission of the Federation of Trade Unions.
November – December 2025: From November 25 to December 10, the Gender Commission traditionally joined the global campaign "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence". Within the framework of the campaign, trade union organizations across all regions and industries held discussion sessions and roundtables focused on eradicating violence in the world of work.

Integration into Collective Agreements and Social Support

The Gender Commission carries out continuous work to integrate specialized protective clauses into the legal frameworks of enterprises. General, sectoral agreements, and collective contracts establish the obligations of the parties to provide additional benefits aimed at the effective protection of motherhood and childhood, ensuring equal pay for men and women, and providing social support to families.

Beyond legal advocacy, affiliate organizations of the FPRK regularly carry out direct social assistance measures for workers. This includes hosting events for Family Day and Children's Defense Day, organizing the annual "Road to School" charitable campaigns, and allocating subsidized vouchers for health resorts, rest, and rehabilitation for the children of trade union members.

Legislative Initiatives and International Dialogue

To elevate the standards of women's labor, the Commission systematically convenes meetings with members of Parliament, employers, experts, and NGOs. These sessions serve to formulate state-level recommendations aimed at eliminating pay discrimination and enhancing safety conditions in workplaces.

An active partnership with international institutions—such as the ILO, the ITUC, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, and the UN Women Structure in the Republic of Kazakhstan—enables the successful adaptation of leading global experiences. Notably, as part of promoting ILO Convention No. 190, the Federation of Trade Unions initiated legislative updates against harassment. Building upon these proposals, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan developed official amendments to the labor legislation concerning the eradication of harassment in the workplace.

Strategic Objectives and Guidelines Until 2030

Despite the progress achieved by Kazakhstan in securing women's employment, a number of issues continue to require comprehensive, ongoing resolution. The Gender Commission and the affiliate organizations of the FPRK have set the following priority tasks:

Fully implementing the Gender Policy Concepts and zero tolerance toward workplace violence in practical operations;
Strengthening the role and authority of gender commissions across all levels of the trade union structure;
Establishing a mandatory quota of no less than 30% of seats for women within elected collegial bodies of trade unions;
Mandating the inclusion of gender provisions (guarantees of equal pay for equal work, extended maternity guarantees, and an explicit prohibition of harassment) into all collective agreements;
Conducting mandatory gender impact assessments for all trade union initiatives and regulatory draft projects;
Further lobbying and advancing the ratification of ILO Convention No. 190;
Establishing a permanent School of Women's Trade Union Leadership with an annual training cycle spanning across the whole of Kazakhstan;
Providing comprehensive support (mentorship, training, and public/media promotion) for female candidates running for elected trade union positions.

The Gender Commission of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan continues to serve as a powerful institution for defending the rights of working women. Through its systematic transition from localized assistance to structural legislative updates and alignment with international standards, the Commission is actively shaping a safe, equal, and fair labor environment across all regions of Kazakhstan.