As part of the XIII Kazakhstan International Conference and Exhibition on Occupational Health and Industrial Safety (KIOSH 2025), held in Astana from May 28 to 30 this year, national and international experts are discussing a wide range of issues related to modern challenges and innovative solutions in occupational safety.
The strategic plenary session that opened the business program was held under the theme: “The Future of Occupational Health and Industrial Safety: Strategies, Trends, and Innovative Solutions.”
The event was attended by Vice‑Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev, Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan Satybaldy Dauletalin, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Svetlana Zhakupova, representatives of the International Labour Organization, the International Association of Labour Inspectors, as well as delegations from Australia, the UK, Russia, Armenia and other countries.
Opening the plenary session, Vice‑Prime Minister Yermek Kosherbayev emphasized the necessity of dialogue among all social partners to develop effective solutions.
“Occupational safety is life, health, and wellbeing of every person. It is especially important here to hear both employers and workers—those who face real problems daily and know which solutions truly work. Reports are one thing, practice is another. Only in close collaboration can we build a genuinely modern and safe working environment,” the Vice‑Prime Minister noted.
Speaking on the state’s policy regarding occupational safety, he recalled the progress made:
“Kazakhstan is demonstrating real progress in this area. The government is implementing digital solutions, strengthening the legislative framework, and actively cooperating with international organizations. We are not at the beginning of the journey, and we have results to show. Today, we need not invent new plans, but effectively implement the measures already in place. We have sufficient mechanisms and tools; the main thing is their execution and the results at every workplace,” Kosherbayev concluded.
Among the key speakers of the strategic session was the Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Satybaldy Dauletalin, who presented an analysis of occupational injuries in Kazakhstan and outlined the main priorities in occupational safety.
First of all, the head of the FTURK emphasized the need for a fundamental reassessment of approaches to safe labor, noting that a modern safety system should not be based on formal compliance, but on the genuine value of human life.
“When we speak about occupational safety today—it is no longer just about standards, instructions, and inspections. It is about a new production philosophy, where the person—their health, life, and safety—is at the center,” Dauletalin stated.
He reminded that for the Federation of Trade Unions, this issue is of paramount importance.
“Our goal is a modern, safe, technologically advanced working environment where protecting people takes precedence over production targets,” he said.
According to the FTURK chair, only a holistic approach—uniting the efforts of the state, employers, and workers—can fundamentally change the situation.
Assessing the challenges facing the occupational safety system today, Dauletalin stressed the need for systemic, sustainable solutions. He pointed to the necessity of shifting from reaction to prevention, from formal requirements to real involvement of labor collectives, and listed key directions of transformation.
“Today’s challenges require systemic responses. And under these conditions, we, as trade unions, take on triple responsibility,” emphasized Satybaldy Dauletalin.
The FTURK leader believes trade unions should not only participate but initiate change:
“We must shape the agenda. To these ends, we will strive to improve legislation in the field of occupational safety so that safety becomes a KPI for enterprise management, not just a box to tick,” he added.
He stated that effective occupational safety is impossible without integrating it into management performance evaluation.
The Chairman of the Federation also focused in detail on the role of trade unions as centers of competence:
“A modern trade union is not just a protector, but an intellectual hub. We must become competence centers—offering occupational safety training, digital platforms for reporting concerns and complaints, a database of best practices—not only Kazakhstani, but international as well,” he emphasized.
He stressed that trade unions should evolve beyond criticism to become equal partners in implementing change.
Particular attention in his speech was given to fostering a culture of collective responsibility in workplaces:
“Occupational safety is not a top-down decree. It is a value born within a team. Only when every worker knows their voice will be heard, their concern not ignored, their participation valued—only then does a real safety culture emerge,” the FTURK leader believes.
As a practical measure, the Federation proposes creating a Trade Union Safety Index for enterprises, based on transparent criteria and open methodologies, as well as launching the digital platform “Worker Speaks” to collect concerns and suggestions from the field.
Chairman Dauletalin noted the importance of training young trade union leaders in a safe labor culture.
Continuing on FTURK priorities, he highlighted production modernization, reminding that physical workplace infrastructure directly impacts injury rates:
“Safety doesn’t start with a hard hat, but with infrastructure. Today, up to 60 % of injuries are due to worn-out equipment. The Federation emphasizes accelerated replacement of outdated machinery. We demand that technical re‑equipment be included in enterprise development programs, not just formally, but based on real on-site risks,” he emphasized.
An important part of his speech touched on digital technologies and artificial intelligence. Dauletalin acknowledged the significant potential of new technologies while calling attention to associated risks:
“Today, AI can predict accidents, reduce risks, and monitor employee health. But at the same time, there are risks of dehumanizing labor, increasing surveillance, and downsizing,” he noted.
He added that the Federation will seek the development of ethical standards for implementing AI, as well as guaranteed trade union involvement in designing and deploying digital solutions. All technical innovations, he said, must pass through a filter of social justice.
Speaking about control and engagement, Dauletalin announced the Federation’s intent to strengthen mechanisms of public oversight and expand the participation of trade union delegates in monitoring workplace conditions:
“We will strengthen public oversight through participation in monitoring new acts and initiatives and expanding the powers of trade union delegates. We will promote the development and implementation of social audits of working conditions with the involvement of all parties,” the FTURK chairman said.
He stressed that another key direction is forming a sustainable safety culture based on awareness, not fear:
“A truly sustainable system is not about fear of penalties. It’s about awareness and values. FTURK will actively promote training in risk assessment, development of safety mentoring practices, educational work with executives,” Dauletalin emphasized.
He proposed establishing multilateral training centers of a new generation, equipped with VR simulators, online courses, and modules on digital hygiene and AI.
In conclusion, the FTURK chairman summed up with a socially oriented takeaway, noting that the main challenge today lies not in technology, but in justice:
“We see that technologies really change everything. But it’s important that every innovation serves, not harms, the Worker,” Dauletalin is confident.
He called on social partners to unite efforts to enhance the protection of workers’ rights and interests, and to build safe and decent working conditions:
“Occupational safety is the mirror of the state. If there is no respect for people in it, there is no future. The main understanding is that every worker has the right not just to a job, but to safe and dignified labor. And our common task is to turn this right into reality. Every day. At every enterprise. For every person,” concluded the Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Continuing the session, Minister Svetlana Zhakupova highlighted the significance of global technological changes:
“This topic underscores the importance of applying new technologies to improve working conditions and prevent accidents. We used to speak about robotization, automation, digitalization, climate change, and the shift to a ‘green’ economy as distant futures. However, this future is already here and is our reality,” said Svetlana Zhakupova.
The Minister reported that the country is undertaking systematic work on implementing digital tools and improving legislation:
“Ensuring safe and decent working conditions in line with global trends will always remain a key priority of national labor policy. In recent years, there has been a downward trend in occupational injuries and the number of workers who lost their professional capacity,” she informed.
The strategic session continued with speeches from leading industry associations, government bodies, the scientific community, and international organizations. Participants emphasized the need for a systemic approach to occupational safety, strengthening safety culture, digital transformation, and innovation.
It is worth noting that representatives of the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan are actively participating in KIOSH, making a significant contribution to the development of the occupational safety system.
Marat Imash, Head of the Department of Safety and Occupational Health, Prevention and Resolution of Labor Disputes of the FTUK, spoke at two key sessions, focusing on priorities in biological safety and improving statistical monitoring in occupational safety.
During the session “Biological Safety in the Republic of Kazakhstan: Strengthening the System and Protecting Workers,” Marat Imash highlighted the importance of a systemic approach to protecting workers from biological risks. He emphasized the need to integrate biological safety principles into national policy and legislation, considering the country’s geographic location, rich biodiversity, and extensive transboundary connections, which objectively place Kazakhstan in a heightened bio-risk zone.
Among his key proposals, Marat Imash called for improving the system of state governance in bio-safety through the creation of centralized monitoring and preventive measures, strengthening social protection for workers by including bio-safety issues in collective agreements, and providing personal protective equipment, as well as developing scientific capabilities in diagnosing and preventing biological threats. “We consider it necessary not only to codify bio-safety norms, but to fully implement these principles at all levels—from industrial enterprises to government bodies,” the trade union expert stressed.
He also proposed creating a National Platform for Occupational Biological Safety with trade unions as an important mechanism of public oversight.
In the second session, “Statistical Monitoring in Occupational Safety: From Numbers to Safety,” Marat Imash emphasized the critical role of reliable statistics in reducing occupational injuries and occupational diseases. “Today, statistical monitoring is the foundation on which the Concept of Safe Labor in the Republic of Kazakhstan is built,” he noted.
Highlighting key issues, the expert pointed to fragmented data, lack of unified methodological standards, limited use of digital technologies, and insufficient objectivity of employer reporting. “It is important to understand that official statistics often do not reflect the real situation on the ground. We advocate for active involvement of workers and trade union representatives in information collection, both through electronic channels and anonymous feedback systems,” he emphasized.
Media Center of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan