KAZAKHSTAN’S LABOUR MIGRATION POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK: A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF REGIONAL DYNAMICS AND STRATEGIC REFORMS

Year 2026, Volume: 8 Issue: 2 , 163 - 184 , 01.05.2026

Nurshat Karatay Adina Kamytbekova

https://izlik.org/JA35YU25XP

Abstract

Labour migration in Kazakhstan has gradually evolved from an unstructured mechanism of economic adaptation into a more formalised component of national policy. This article examines the institutional and legal framework of migration governance through an analysis of Kazakhstan’s migration policy concepts and regulatory mechanisms. Particular attention is given to the foreign labour quota system, preferential migration arrangements for nationals of the Eurasian Economic Union, and the emergence of relocation migration following recent geopolitical developments. The study also analyses regulatory distinctions between corporate and individual labour migration and considers the broader regional dynamics of labour mobility in Central Asia. In addition, the article explores the role of bilateral labour agreements and international organizations in shaping migration governance and protecting the socio-economic rights of migrant workers. Despite ongoing reforms, informal labour practices continue to limit the effectiveness of state regulation. The findings suggest that Kazakhstan’s migration policy aims to balance labour market protection with the need to attract qualified foreign labour.

Keywords

Kazakhstan , Relocants , Migration policy , Ethnopolitical stability , Eurasian integration

Ethical Statement

This study did not require approval from an ethics committee as it did not involve human participants, animals, or sensitive personal data. All data used in this research were obtained from publicly available sources.

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