Minimum wage remains unchanged - Zhumangarin announced in the Ministry of Labor, no increase in payrate forthcoming
In a recent government briefing, Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumanjarov confirmed that the minimum wage in Kazakhstan will remain unchanged at 85,000 tenge (approximately $157) per month for 2026 [1]. This decision contradicts earlier announcements made by the Minister of Labor and Social Protection and the Finance Minister, who had suggested a possible increase of around 5,000 tenge to just over 90,000 tenge starting January 1, 2026 [2].
The current economic situation has led the government to freeze the minimum wage for 2026, according to Zhumanjarov [1]. This decision overrules earlier indications of a planned increase of 5,000 tenge, which would have amounted to a 5–6% rise [3][4]. The last increase occurred in January 2024, from 70,000 tenge to 85,000 tenge.
In his statement, Zhumanjarov emphasized that other social benefits such as pensions will continue to be indexed to inflation, supported by budget allocations. However, the earlier mentioned possible increase of the minimum wage to 90,000 tenge from January 1, 2026, has not been confirmed by the Deputy Prime Minister [1].
The research by several institutions, as mentioned by Minister Svetlana Zhakupova, to raise the minimum wage from January 1 of the following year, remains under consideration [5]. The Ministry of Labor had announced a minimum wage increase in late June, but this has not been confirmed by Serik Zhumanjarov [6].
In summary, the latest authoritative update is that Kazakhstan will maintain the minimum wage at 85,000 tenge in 2026, with no scheduled increases as announced by Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumanjarov [1]. This decision demonstrates a shift from earlier plans to raise the minimum wage, likely influenced by current economic conditions.
References
[1] Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister announces no minimum wage increase for 2026
[2] Kazakhstan to increase minimum wage to 90,000 tenge in 2026
[3] Kazakhstan considers increasing minimum wage by 5,000 tenge
[4] Kazakhstan to raise minimum wage to 90,000 tenge from January 1, 2026
[5] Minister Svetlana Zhakupova on the minimum wage increase plans
[6] Ministry of Labor announces minimum wage increase in late June
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