On Monday, April 7, a meeting was held at the central office of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan (FTURK) in Astana, chaired by FTURK President Satylbaldy Dauletalin. A group of deputies from the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan attended the event, along with First Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection Akmadi Sarbasov, FTURK leadership, and sectoral trade union chairpersons.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the labor market and social-labor relations.
Presenting the draft law “On Artificial Intelligence” was Mazhilis deputy and co-author of the bill, Yekaterina Smyshlyayeva. According to her, the bill aims to establish a clear legal framework for integrating AI technologies into Kazakhstan’s economy.
“The draft classifies AI by risk level: high—systems that affect human life, health, public governance, and decision-making, which will be strictly regulated; medium—subject to oversight but with fewer restrictions; and low—these systems won’t be regulated and can evolve freely. Kazakhstan has already introduced measures for personal data protection, and the bill proposes additional limits on the use and distribution of personal data, especially when AI is involved. It also addresses accountability for decisions made with AI participation,” Smyshlyayeva said.
She emphasized that, given the labor implications of AI, the bill deserved special presentation to workers, thus the separate session at the Federation of Trade Unions.
Vice Minister Sarbasov shared that the Ministry of Labor currently manages 16 information systems that deliver 44 out of 47 government services to citizens electronically. “AI will inevitably influence the labor sector. That’s why, together with social partners such as FTURK, we’ll consider amendments to the General Agreement on Social Partnership. Experts estimate that highly qualified professionals, especially in megacities—up to 36%—face the greatest risks, particularly in insurance, finance, and other sectors. The agricultural sector is likely to be least affected. While AI has benefits, errors are possible, making human oversight critical,” Sarbasov noted.
FTURK President Dauletalin outlined more specific societal and labor-related risks linked to AI. He noted that breakthrough technologies offer many opportunities, but also raise significant concerns that require careful consideration and regulation.
“Automation through AI may lead to job losses in certain sectors, raising questions of fairness and the need to create alternative employment for displaced workers. According to the International Labour Organization, over 40% of the global workforce holds jobs that may change or disappear due to AI. This includes not only routine roles but also high-skilled positions. AI’s rise increases risks to data privacy and job independence—skills could be lost, leaving societies vulnerable if systems fail. Technology access disparities may deepen social inequality, benefiting some while marginalizing others,” he warned.
To address these risks, Dauletalin proposed several measures: developing ethical standards, training for future job skills, ensuring cybersecurity, creating social support programs for displaced workers, and increasing transparency in AI decision-making processes.
He also highlighted risks linked to digital labor trends, such as remote work and fragmented tasks, which can lead to social disconnection, alienation from culture and community, and possible labor conflicts.
“Legal institutions like employment, working hours, safety, and labor law compliance need transformation. Governments must act now to regulate employer use of AI. Labor laws should require employer approval from worker representatives before replacing humans with AI. Laws must also restrict layoffs without retraining or reemployment, ban the creation of human-robot jobs without collective consent, establish lists of roles for humans only, define rules for human-robot collaboration, and enforce quotas for human-occupied jobs. Governments and businesses must set ethical standards ensuring AI promotes progress—not division,” he emphasized.
During the discussion, FTURK advisor Birzhan Nurymbetov and sectoral union chair Mirbolat Zhakypov emphasized the need for legal accountability regarding AI and data use, and for overall human oversight of AI systems. Energy and coal union heads Orazbek Bekbas and Marat Mirgayazov also spoke about the law’s potential impact on labor legislation.
Mazhilis deputy Sergey Ponomarev expressed willingness to bring trade union recommendations to Parliament for consideration.
The bill, according to its authors, is grounded in key principles: transparency and explainability, prioritizing human well-being over technology, and data safety and security.
In general, lawmakers voiced support for the union movement’s concerns and pledged to continue collaborating on legislation that may affect labor rights.
Closing the meeting, FTURK President Dauletalin stated: “Breakthrough technologies—especially AI—must be used under human control and for the benefit of workers in our digitally evolving society.”
Media Center of the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan