Sector/Industry Activity

In 2014, Kazakhstan made a minimal advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. Kazakhstan has received an assessment of minimal advancement because its President issued a decree in February 2014 placing a moratorium on inspections of small and medium-size businesses, resulting in the Government not enforcing its child labor laws. This gap in enforcement delays the advancements made in eliminating child labor during the reporting period. In addition, there is limited comprehensive and current research on child labor and programs to combat the worst forms of child labor are insufficient to adequately address the extent of the problem. Children in Kazakhstan are engaged in the worst forms of child labor, including in cotton farming. Despite these gaps, the Government did make efforts to prevent and eliminate child labor, including making children engaged in the worst forms of child labor eligible for social protection services and developing a new national action plan on human trafficking. I. PREVALENCE AND SECTORAL DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD LABOR Children in Kazakhstan are engaged in the worst forms of child labor, including in cotton farming.(1-4) Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in Kazakhstan