What legislative framework should be established to govern remote work in Kazakhstan?

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to justify the need for introducing a separate chapter on remote work into the Labor Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan in order to establish clear and enforceable legal standards for employees and employers. The methodological basis of the research includes comparative legal analysis, formal legal analysis, and a comparative assessment of foreign regulatory approaches applied in the United States, the European Union, and the CIS states. The findings indicate that the current legal regulation of remote work in Kazakhstan remains fragmented and does not provide sufficient legal certainty or adequate guarantees for employees. The existing provisions of the Labor Code do not sufficiently regulate the contractual framework for remote work, working hours and rest periods, the limits of employer control, reimbursement of workrelated expenses, and communication between employers and employees. These gaps increase legal risks for remote employees and complicate the practical implementation of remote work. The article concludes that the development of remote work in Kazakhstan requires targeted legislative reform. The introduction of a separate chapter on remote work into the Labor Code would strengthen employee protection, ensure a balanced distribution of rights and obligations, and create appropriate legal conditions for the development of flexible forms of employment.