Parliament consider draft law on preferences for rural social employees

Astana, 6 November 2008, (Khabar) - A displacement allowance and 15-year interest-free loans are amongst the incentives offered by the government to stimulate those who took a decision to move to rural areas.

It was the
Minister for Agriculture of the Republic, Akylbek Kurishbayev who made a
speech regarding this topic at an extended meeting in the Majilis. The
shortage of specialists in the rural areas is becoming more acute every year
and in the next three years it could reach a level of 26 thousand people,
Kurishbayev stated. Previously, the President called on young people to move
to villages and asked the government to take a number of measures to
stimulate young specialists. The minister also noted that apart from the
displacement allowance, social work employees will also get up to 25% in pay
rises as well as an opportunity to obtain a 15 year interest-free loan to
buy housing. For these points, the government has already allocated close to
21 billon tenge.

Akylbek Kurishbayev, Minister for Agriculture of RK:
- The draft law also includes some social support such as a one-time
displacement allowance and a preferential loan for buying housing. It also
stipulates a pay rise for social work employees working in some rural areas.

During the extended meeting, the members of parliament also discussed some
amendments to the pension law as the government had proposed increasing the
maximum income level used for pension indexation from 25 to 28 monthly
calculated indices. The Minister for Labour and Social Security, Berdibek
Saparbayev also reported that starting next year, pensions were to see a 30%
increase. In particular, the minister underlined that it will be basically
done for former agriculture, education and healthcare employees as well as
for those who retired between 1991 and 1995.