Speech by UN Resident Coordinator, Sarangoo Radnaaragchaa at the Tripartite High-Level Round Table on Social Dialogue and Dispute Resolution

Your Excellency Chairman of the State Labour Inspection Committee of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. Meirambek Akhmetov,

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great honor to welcome you all to this High-Level Round Table on Social Dialogue and Dispute Resolution. I sincerely thank the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, and my colleagues from ILO for inviting me to this event.

Today’s gathering reflects the shared commitment of the Government of Kazakhstan, employers’ organizations, workers’ representatives, and the United Nations system to advance the principles of decent work, fairness, and inclusivity. At its core, decent work is not only about jobs—it is about dignity, security, and opportunity. It is about ensuring that economic growth translates into social progress, leaving no one behind.

Social dialogue, or tripartite dialogue is the cornerstone of this vision. It provides the platform where voices of the employees, employers and the government can be heard, differences can be constructively addressed, and consensus can be built. Effective mechanisms for dispute resolution are essential to strengthening trust among partners, preventing conflict, and fostering stability in the labor market. 

This tripartite dialogue is deeply embedded in important human rights, like freedom of association (including especially freedom to establish trade-unions). It also requires availability of strong institutions on all three sides.

Kazakhstan continues its efforts in aligning its labor policies with international standards, and the Roadmap for Promoting Decent Work offers additional pathway forward. We welcome adoption of the General Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Republican Associations (Unions) of Employers, and Republican Associations (Unions) of Trade Unions for 2024–2026. I personally noted with pleasure that it has also an reference to an agreement to advance the Sustainable Development Goals, - this yet again reconfirmation of Kazakhstan’s commitment to the SDGs.

Yet, the challenges of a rapidly changing economy, technological transformation, and global uncertainties remind us that dialogue and cooperation must remain dynamic and resilient.

The United Nations – and primarily ILO – stands ready to support Kazakhstan in this journey—working hand in hand with government institutions, employers, and workers to ensure that labor relations are fair, inclusive, and sustainable. Together, we can build a future where every worker enjoys safe conditions, every employer thrives in a stable environment, and every community benefits from social justice.

In a wider perspective, the UN has signed a new Cooperation Framework with the Government of Kazakhstan 2026-2030. With five years left to the SDGs and global challenges, we will be focusing on:

• Enhancing public services such as education, health, and social protection.
• Promoting economic diversification and decent work.
• Supporting Kazakhstan’s actions on triple planetary crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution
• Strengthening social cohesion, by supporting implementation of the concept of a Listening State and inclusive governance, supporting civil society etc. 

I want to thank you for our cooperation so far. 

I encourage today’s discussions to be frank, forward-looking, and solution-oriented. Let us use this opportunity to strengthen the foundations of social dialogue and dispute resolution, ensuring that the Roadmap for Promoting Decent Work becomes a living instrument of progress for all people in Kazakhstan.

Thank you.