OREANDA-NEWS. March 14, 2014. The bill "On ratification of the Minimum Wage Fixing Convention (No. 26)" was discussed at an enlarged meeting of the Committee on social and cultural development and science of the Senate.

"The Convention is directed at Member States of the organization to adopt or keep a procedure to fix the minimum wage for certain sectors," Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kairat Absattarov said presenting the bill.

According to him, wages should not be lower than fixed rates under article 4 of the Convention, and it can not be cut in contracts and collective agreements. A state ratifying the Convention is taking all necessary measures to do so. A worker, who is subject to minimum rates and got a salary at a lower rate, has a right to get the amount that he was underpaid judicially or through other legal procedures.

Deputy Minister noted that the minimum wage rate is fixed annually by the Law "On state budget" in Kazakhstan. The minimum wage can not be less than the living wage.

After discussion, the Committee decided to introduce a bill before the House at a plenary meeting.