International Activity

International cooperation is an integral and strategically vital pillar of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan (hereinafter referred to as the Federation). This activity is guided by the Federation's Strategy for 2025–2030, titled "Fair Labor in an Era of Change: Protection, Development, Innovation," which defines the key directions for global partnership.

The global trade union movement is expanding rapidly compared to other international organizations. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), more than 250 million workers worldwide are currently union members.

The Republic of Kazakhstan is a full member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and has ratified 26 international conventions concerning labor, employment, and social protection. This includes 10 fundamental, 4 governance (directive), and 12 technical conventions out of the 192 ILO Conventions.

The General Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, republican associations (associations, unions) of employers, and republican associations (associations, unions) of trade unions for 2024–2026 provides for consultations on the ratification of 9 additional international ILO conventions. It is proposed to ratify:

No. 154 Collective Bargaining Convention;
No. 160 Labour Statistics Convention;
No. 168 Employment Promotion and Protection against Unemployment Convention;
No. 102 Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention;
No. 190 Violence and Harassment Convention;
No. 176 Safety and Health in Mines Convention;
No. 161 Occupational Health Services Convention;
No. 191 Safe and Healthy Working Conditions (Fundamental Principle);
No. 192 Biological Hazards in the Working Environment Convention.

As an active participant in the global trade union movement, the Federation builds its international operations on the principles of solidarity with the goals of the ILO and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) to promote decent work and social justice. To this end, the Federation has adopted the International Cooperation Development Program, which includes:

Implementing ILO initiatives on the future of work and promoting the principles of social justice;
Deepening cooperation with the ILO, including analyzing global labor trends and fostering the implementation of international standards;
Advancing and ratifying key ILO conventions;
Partnering with the United Nations (UN) and its agencies to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically focusing on SDG 8;
Expanding cooperation with international associations on women's employment and gender equality;
Strengthening ties with the ITUC, the Pan-European Regional Council (PERC), the Council of Trade Unions of Central Asian Countries (CTUCA), and the Organization of Trade Unions of Turkic States (OTUTS).

To bolster international cooperation, the Federation regularly exchanges expertise with leading specialists from the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, as well as the ILO Bureau for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV).

One of the landmark achievements was the removal of Kazakhstan from the "shortlist" of countries failing to comply with ILO Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise. This milestone was reached due to the systematic and persistent efforts of the Federation, ranging from the preparation of rigorous legal arguments to engaging in direct dialogue with the ILO Committee on the Application of Standards.

At the 112th session of the International Labour Conference (Geneva, 2024), a Joint Action Plan (Roadmap) was signed between the FTURK, the Government of Kazakhstan, the "Paryz" Employers' Confederation, and the ILO. It covers:

Reforming the minimum wage system;
Developing social dialogue mechanisms;
Modernizing the occupational safety and health system;
Promoting new labor regulation standards in the context of digitalization and AI.

From 2021 to 2025, the Federation initiated and participated in the implementation of 12 ILO projects in Kazakhstan. These projects addressed platform employment, youth employment, occupational safety, sustainable post-COVID-19 recovery, climate change, just transition, the informal sector, and vocational training and upskilling. This practice established a unique model of aligning global goals with national objectives, earning high praise from the ILO.

In 2024, Gilbert Houngbo made history as the first Director-General of the ILO to visit Kazakhstan. Symbolically, his first meeting took place at the headquarters of the Federation of Trade Unions, recognizing the Federation's leadership in driving the labor agenda.

Between 2021 and 2025, 782 representatives of the Federation participated in 123 international events, including conferences, forums, sessions, and seminars. This went beyond mere attendance; it served as an opportunity to consolidate positions, adopt innovative approaches, and build a leadership talent pool with global expertise.

Following the restoration of strategic dialogue with the ITUC in 2021–2022, the Federation officially became an affiliate of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) on November 17, 2022. This marked crucial international recognition of the FTURK's capacity to play a constructive role in the global arena.

In 2023, the Chairman of the Federation, Satybaldy Dauletalin, was elected Vice-President of the ITUC Pan-European Regional Council (PERC), and in 2024, he became a member of the ITUC General Council. This milestone has given Kazakhstan a strong voice at the highest decision-making levels of the global labor movement.

The Federation actively participates in the PERC Executive Committee, Coordination Council meetings, the PERC Women’s School, and the PERC Youth Committee, ensuring systematic representation of Kazakhstani trade unions at all levels, from strategic to operational.

In 2021, the Federation co-founded the Council of Trade Unions of Central Asian Countries (CTUCA). Over four years, the Council has held 8 meetings, aligning regional priorities on labor migration, collective bargaining, and the green economy. Today, CTUCA has evolved from an expert platform into a resilient regional coalition uniting Central Asian nations around a shared labor agenda.

In 2023, the Federation chaired CTUCA and launched several unique projects:

Launching a unified website and digital information platform;
Developing and implementing the official logo, flag, and brand identity of CTUCA;
Creating the CTUCA Youth Council and organizing the International Youth Forum "Evolution of Labor";
Initiating the regional "Best Collective Agreement" competition;
Signing a memorandum to promote labor tourism;
Organizing the traditional "CTUCA CUP" futsal tournament among Central Asian trade unions as a platform for youth social integration;
Initiating the creation of Unified Regional Standards for AI Regulation in the workplace.

The next logical step was the Federation's initiative to establish the Organization of Trade Unions of Turkic States (OTUTS) as a platform for interregional strategic alliance. In December 2024, OTUTS was officially registered.

At the first OTUTS Congress (Ankara, May 22, 2025), the Chairman of the Federation was elected General Secretary of the new structure. This title reflects the recognition of Kazakhstan as a hub for trade union leadership in the Turkic world. OTUTS has become a new center for consolidating the efforts of Turkic labor organizations on issues of migration, climate, AI, and social protection.

On July 9–10, 2025, Astana became the first city in Central Asia to host the Summer School of the ITUC Pan-European Regional Council (PERC), bringing together nearly 70 trade union leaders and experts from 50 national trade union centers. Over two days, participants discussed collective bargaining, labor rights protection, workplace democracy, and contemporary challenges in the world of work. Special emphasis was placed on international protection mechanisms—such as ILO Convention No. 98, EU directives, and global framework agreements—as well as the impact of digitalization and artificial intelligence on working conditions.

The event was attended by ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle and ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch, alongside heads of the ILO and national trade union centers. Their presence highlighted the prestigious status of the Summer School and Kazakhstan's growing influence in the international arena.

A key ongoing objective for the Federation is to boost the participation of its representatives and member organizations in international events to enhance professional skills and broader trade union expertise.

To date, the Federation has established strong partnerships with over 60 foreign trade union centers and international organizations, including UN agencies such as the ILO, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and UN Women. Partnerships are also well-established with the International Trade Union Confederation, the Japan International Labour Foundation (JILAF), and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

Union members, central staff, and regional trade union officers participate annually in training programs hosted by the Japan International Labour Foundation (JILAF). Designed to train trade union leaders from Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and other regions, this program facilitates the exchange of best practices and professional capacity building. To date, 42 representatives of the Federation have completed JILAF training, and two more employees are scheduled to participate in 2026, continuing to strengthen the Federation's human capital.

Joint operations between the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) are continuous and highly productive. Within this framework, annual training seminars are organized on conflict resolution, mediation, and labor dispute management. These events are designed to upgrade the professional competencies of union leaders, develop negotiation skills, and strengthen the foundation for effective social dialogue.

The Federation actively expands international partnerships and reinforces institutional ties with global labor centers. Memorandums of Understanding and Cooperation have been signed with several leading regional and international organizations, including the Georgian Trade Union Confederation, the Confederation of Mongolian Trade Unions, the Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation, the Federation of Trade Unions of Kyrgyzstan, and the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions. Additionally, a Cooperation Agreement was signed with Hak-İş, one of Turkey's largest trade union confederations.

The Federation of Trade Unions is consistently shaping a new international identity for the Kazakhstani labor movement. Moving beyond symbolic participation, the FTURK:

Builds international alliances and develops the institutional infrastructure for global cooperation;
Drives thematic leadership on artificial intelligence, the green economy, occupational safety, and just transition;
Advocates for the inclusion of national initiatives into the global labor agenda;
Strengthens the human and intellectual capital of Kazakhstan's trade union movement;
Expands its geographical reach and depth of influence, transitioning from a participant to an initiator and co-author of global labor solutions.