Deputies Criticize Kazakh Language Test For Ethnic Kazakh Returnees

Mazhilis deputies raised the issue of the Kazakh language exam requirement for kandas (ethnic Kazakh returnees), Orda.kz reports.

Kazakhstan has launched a pilot project on labor migration to the country. However, current legislation requires people arriving in Kazakhstan to pass Kazakh language exams.

Deputy Murat Abenov said he had received complaints from kandas. According to him, they were previously able to choose the region where they wanted to resettle, but the current pilot project limits their choice to certain regions.

Abenov also criticized the Kazakh language test requirement. He noted that many kandas arriving from other countries do not know the Cyrillic alphabet, making the exam a serious barrier for them.

Before, they did not take a Kazakh language test, but now it has been introduced. Our kandas do not even know the Cyrillic alphabet, let alone Kazakh. That is why they now go around to embassies. Why did we introduce such requirements? This violates their rights,the deputy said.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection said the pilot project is aimed at attracting needed workers to the regions and meets the interests of the economy.

If a kandas intends to live in Kazakhstan, the state helps them obtain citizenship. If they want to live and work in the country temporarily, they are sent to certain regions.

First Deputy Labor Minister Yerbol Tuyakbayev also explained the language test requirement.

Any citizen who wants to move to Kazakhstan must have basic knowledge of the Kazakh language. They should be able to speak in a store or write an application, so they can freely express their thoughts. This is now a mandatory requirement — kandas are taking the test. This is international practice,he said.

Deputy Kazybek Isa, in turn, said the requirement for ethnic Kazakhs to pass a state language exam contradicts the law. According to him, the citizenship law exempts ethnic Kazakhs from such an exam.

He said he had recently met in Almaty with a group of kandas who complained about the new requirements. Isa emphasized that they come from countries with different alphabets, so taking the exam in its current format raises questions.

Tuyakbayev replied that the issue of contradictions in the legislation is now being considered in another bill. He proposed discussing the problem separately when the relevant draft law is considered.

Original author: Ilya Astakhov

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