Kazakhstani Military Personnel To Receive Expanded Social Guarantees

The Mazhilis has considered a bill on the legal status of military personnel, defense, and military service. The document strengthens social guarantees for servicemen, Orda.kz reports.

Servicemen who live in barracks or take part in quarantine measures would be provided with adequate nutrition at the state’s expense. Military personnel involved in emergency response, anti-terrorist operations, and maintaining a state of emergency would receive triple pay.

This proposal is due to the increased level of risk, high psychological and physical pressure, as well as the special conditions of service during these periods. The proposed mechanism is aimed at strengthening social guarantees for servicemen and increasing the level of their material support,deputy Olzhas Kuspekov said.

Servicemen who have been temporarily suspended from office and placed at the disposal of authorities under criminal procedure legislation would be guaranteed pay of at least the minimum wage. Currently, such military personnel may be left without a salary.

Deputies also propose legally defining the status of Kazakhstan’s military representatives in international organizations and military cooperation bodies of foreign states. They want to extend diplomatic privileges, immunities, pay standards, working conditions, and social and medical support to them.

In addition, the Armed Forces propose introducing a digital rating system for candidates being considered for promotion to higher military positions.

The bill also changes the payment procedure for Kazakhstani military personnel participating in UN peacekeeping missions. Funds transferred by the UN to the state for the provision of military personnel would be sent directly to the Defense Ministry’s account, allowing payments to servicemen to be made faster. Currently, the funds are transferred to the national budget, which can delay payments.

According to Deputy Defense Minister Darkhan Akhmediev, 55 Kazakhstani military personnel are currently participating in UN peacekeeping missions.

There are now 55 servicemen in peacekeeping missions. The funds they receive from the UN amount to $1,500. Compared with our salary, this is three times higher,the deputy minister said.

Deputies also proposed giving the Special Operations Forces of Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces the status of a special-purpose unit and assigning the Defense Ministry the authority to determine their tasks and operational purpose.

Original author: Ilya Astakhov

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