The Head of the MTSZN and Social Affairs discussed issues of cooperation in the social and labor sphere with the Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Kazakhstan

Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Kazakhstan Serik Shapkenov held a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Kazakhstan Jun Yamada. During the courtesy visit, the parties discussed further cooperation on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Japan and the priorities of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan (hereinafter - the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan) on the basis of the Message of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the People of Kazakhstan dated September 1, 2021.

During the talks, Serik Shapkenov stressed that relations between the states as a whole are built exclusively in a friendly way, traditionally supported by ties at the highest level and continue to develop.

The Minister also noted that the MTSZN is exchanging experience in the social and labor sphere with the Japanese side in accordance with the agreements reached within the framework of the Kazakh-Japanese Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation.

«So, in 2018-2019, an exchange of experience was held in the field of social protection, formalization of the self–employed population and pension provision, which the parties are successfully studying», Serik Shapkenov said.

He also noted that one of the important unifying factors of the two countries is joint work on studying the consequences of nuclear tests.

«Our legislation provides for a number of measures aimed at social support for persons affected by nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site: one-time monetary compensation, additional pay and annual additional paid leave, preferential assignment of age pension payments and state social disability allowance, subject to the establishment of a causal relationship with the tests, and a monthly special allowance for direct participants in the tests», the head of the MTSZN said.

Serik Shapkenov also told the representative of Japan about the priorities of the department, which were identified in the framework of the President's Address to the People of Kazakhstan dated September 1, 2021 - raising the minimum wage and salaries of civil servants from among teachers, doctors and social workers.

In turn, Jun Yamada expressed gratitude for the joint work of the two states carried out in the social and labor sphere, and also noted the importance of the initiatives implemented by the MTSZN.