The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan has submitted for public discussion a draft order amending the order of the Deputy Prime Minister — Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the RK dated June 29, 2023 No. 260 "On Approval of the Rules for Conducting Medical and Social Expertise." The document is posted on the "Open NLA" portal and currently has draft status — meaning it is not yet a valid act. Discussion is open until October 6, 2026, so businesses, specialists, and citizens still have the opportunity to submit comments and suggestions.
What is happening
This concerns an adjustment to the rules governing the conduct of medical and social expertise (MSE). These are the very rules that determine the procedure for establishing disability, the degree of loss of work capacity, and a person's need for social support and rehabilitation measures. The changes are being made to the base order No. 260 dated June 29, 2023, which remains the primary document in this area today.
It is important to understand: at this stage, this is a draft, not an adopted act. It is undergoing a public discussion phase, following which the text may be adjusted, supplemented, or sent for revision. The final wording will only be known after the order is approved.
Who this concerns
The Rules for Conducting Medical and Social Expertise affect a wide range of participants:
- Citizens who are undergoing or planning to undergo examination to establish disability or degree of loss of work capacity;
- Employers and HR departments, who need to correctly formalize labor relations with employees who have health limitations, and take MSE conclusions into account when reassigning duties, creating special working conditions, or providing guarantees;
- Medical organizations that refer patients for expertise;
- Occupational safety, HR, and social work specialists who support the registration procedures and interact with MSE authorities.
For HR departments, the medical and social expertise conclusion is a document on the basis of which decisions are made regarding employment, work arrangements, and the provision of guarantees required by law. Therefore, any changes to the MSE procedure directly affect HR record-keeping.
Why this matters for employers and HR professionals
Medical and social expertise is not only a medical but also a legally significant process. The employer's obligations depend on its results: workplace adaptation, compliance with working condition restrictions, and processing of related documents. Adjustments to the rules may affect deadlines, the list of documents, the procedure for referral for expertise, and interaction between parties.
The public discussion stage is an opportunity to assess in advance how the proposed changes will affect current processes and, if necessary, express a position. Participation in the discussion is especially useful for organizations that regularly deal with formalizing labor relations with employees who have medical limitations.
What to do now
- Review the draft. Find the document on the "Open NLA" portal in the section for drafts of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population and carefully study the proposed changes.
- Assess the impact on your processes. Check how the current procedure is used in your HR practice and which procedures may change.
- Prepare comments. If you have suggestions or questions, submit them through the public discussion mechanism before the deadline expires.
- Follow the final version. Rely on the final approved order — only it will be legally binding. Until its adoption, continue to apply the current rules under Order No. 260.
Deadlines
Public discussion of the draft is open until October 6, 2026. Until this procedure is completed and the changes are officially approved, the current version of the Rules for Conducting Medical and Social Expertise remains in effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the draft already entered into force? — No. This is a draft order posted for public discussion. It is not a valid act, and until it is approved, the current rules under Order No. 260 dated June 29, 2023 apply.
Until what date can comments be submitted? — Public discussion of the draft is open until October 6, 2026.
What do the Rules for Conducting Medical and Social Expertise regulate? — They determine the procedure for conducting MSE, based on which disability, degree of loss of work capacity, and the need for social support and rehabilitation measures are established.
Where can I view the text of the draft? — The draft is published on the "Open NLA" portal in the section for drafts of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
How does this concern employers? — MSE conclusions are used when formalizing labor relations with employees who have health limitations, so changes to the procedure for conducting it may affect HR procedures and document workflow.