Article 68 of Labor Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated November 23, 2015 (the Code) provides that standard working hours should not exceed 40 hours per week.
An employment agreement may provide for shorter working hours with payment as for the standard working hours.
The Code also provides for the set of reduced working hours for certain employee categories:
for workers aged fourteen to sixteen years – no more than
24 hours per week (Article 69 of the Code);
for workers aged sixteen to eighteen years – no more than
36 hours per week (Article 69 of the Code);
for workers engaged in heavy work, work with harmful and (or) hazardous working conditions - no more than 36 hours per week in accordance with the List of industries, workshops, trades and job positions, the list of heavy works, works with harmful and (or) hazardous working conditions (Article 69 of the Code);
for disabled workers of the first and second groups - no more than 36 hours per week (Article 69 of the Code).
In accordance with Article 79 of the Code, the organizations shall keep records of working hours of employee actually worked.
With a five-day work week, the duration of daily work (work shift) shall not exceed 8 hours with a weekly standard of 40 hours,
7 hours 12 minutes with a weekly standard of 36 hours; with a six-day work week, the duration of daily work (work shift) shall not exceed: for employees with a weekly working time standard of 40 hours - 7 hours; with a weekly standard of 36 hours - 6 hours, etc.
In this regard, the duration of working hours shall be:
For a 40-hour work week:
with a five-day work week – five working days of 8 hours;
with a six-day work week – five working days of 7 hours each and one working day of 5 hours.
For a 36-hour work week:
with a five-day work week - five working days of 7 hours 12 minutes (7.20 hours);
with a six-day work week – six working days of 6 hours each.
In accordance with Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated December 13, 2001
No. 267 “On Holidays in the Republic of Kazakhstan” (the Law), the days on which national and public holidays are celebrated in the Republic of Kazakhstan are recognized as holidays in accordance with labor legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Public holidays in the Republic of Kazakhstan are non-working days.
If a weekend and a holiday coincide, the next working day after the holiday is considered the weekend.
Public holidays celebrated in the Republic of Kazakhstan:
national holiday:
Republic Day – October 25 ;
public holidays:
New Year - January 1-2;
International Women's Day – March 8;
Constitution Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan – March 15;
“Nauryz meiramy” - March 21-23;
Day of Unity of the People of Kazakhstan – May 1;
Fatherland’s Defender Day - May 7;
Victory Day – May 9;
Capital city Day – July 6;
Independence Day – December 16 .
In this regard, drawing up the balance of working hours in 2026, taking into account the Law provisions, holidays that coincide with weekends (Saturday, Sunday) were transferred to the next working day after the holiday:
with a five-day work week:
from March 8 to March 9 ;
from March 21 to March 24;
from March 2 to March 25;
from May 9 to May 11;
from October 25 to October 26;
with a six-day work week:
from March 8 to March 9;
from March 22 to March 24;
from October 25 to October 26.
In accordance with Article 84 of the Code, in the case of a five-day and six-day work week, the common day off is Sunday.
The second day off in a five-day work week is established by a collective agreement or work regulations.
The first day of “Kurban-ayt”, celebrated according to the Muslim calendar, and
January 7, Orthodox Christmas, are days off.
In 2026, the first day of “Kurban-ayt” falls on May 27 .
The production calendar sets out the standard working hours for months, quarters, and entire 2026 year in working days (hours). It is calculated using a five-day and six-day workweek calendar, based on eight-, seven-, and six-hour workdays with 40- and 36-hour workweeks.
In 2026, the standard working hours are:
with a 40-hour work week:
five-day week – 19 68 hours (246 days * 8.00 hours);
six-day week – 1986 hours (248 days * 7.00 hours + 50 days * 5.00 hours);
with a 36-hour work week:
five-day week – 17 71.20 hours ( 24 6 days * 7.20 hours);
six-day week – 1,788 hours ( 298 days * 6.00 hours).
The average monthly number of working days for 2026 is:
with a five-day work week – 20, 50 days;
with a six-day work week – 24.83 days.
The average monthly number of calendar days for 2026 is 20.58 (excluding holidays established by legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan).