July 2 at a press conference following the Government meeting, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Berdybek Saparbayev spoke about the first results of targeted social assistance paid from April 1, 2019.

At the moment, 285 thousand families or 1.4 million Kazakhstanis, including 900 thousand children, receive the assistance. According to the ministry, 393 thousand of the recioients are able-bodied. So 81 thousand of them must be employed. However, only 38 thousand of them work. The social contract was concluded by 30 thousand people.

“This is a very low indicator. Our most important task is to make sure that the able-bodied people in a family receiving the assistance should work. Therefore, we always tell regional akims that it is necessary to conclude a social contract, then to employ them. If the person does not work, then we will suspend the payment of the assistance. There is such a requirement and a law,” the minister noted.

Saparbayev also noted that there are very few people who are searching for work. Everyone wants to get the assistance. In this issue, as the minister noted, it is important not to allow dependency.

“The most important thing is not to allow dependency. In Aktau, Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich said ‘We must distinguish between the need and dependency.’ We can not allow people to lie at home and receive the assistance of 100 thousand tenge or 180 thousand tenge. Therefore, we say there are violations of the law and we will reduce the payment of the assistance,” said Saparbayev.

For its part, the state will provide employment support measures. First, free irrevocable grants for 505 thousand tenge without interest and commissions will be provided. Second, microcredit will be issued at 6%. Third, if a citizen does not have a specialty, she will have the opportunity to study at short-term courses and receive a specialty. After receiving a specialty and issuing a certificate, she will be able to develop his business plan and start her own business. It is planned to open social jobs for mothers raising disabled children. Additional funds will be allocated for this.

“If employers open jobs for mothers raising disabled children, we will pay them a 35% subsidy,” the minister informed.

Saparbayev also announced that the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population plans to tighten the conditions for the appointment and payment of the assistance. Since in some regions illegal payments take place, when incomes are incorrectly calculated, there is no conclusion of a social contract and other documents. There were cases when the same person received the assistance 2-3 times. In this connection, the number of people who receive the assistance will be reduced.