Colleges in Kazakhstan may begin offering formal training for cleaning professionals, Education Minister Zhuldyz Suleimenova said in response to a parliamentary inquiry.
According to Suleimenova, the rapid growth of the service sector has created an urgent need to identify and train qualified cleaning professionals. However, she noted that the Ministry of Labor is responsible for assessing workforce needs in the short, medium and long term.
«If a demand for workers in the cleaning sector is identified, the possibility of training such specialists will be considered,» Suleimenova said.
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Training to be based on employers’ needs
The minister emphasized that decisions about training should not be based solely on overall labor market demand. They should also reflect employers’ specific requirements, including the qualifications needed, the number of workers required and their regional distribution.
«If the relevant central government agencies, industry associations or employers submit proposals to add a new specialty or qualification related to the cleaning sector to the official classification system, those proposals will be reviewed in accordance with established procedures,» Suleimenova said.
Proposal to formalize employment in the cleaning sector
Notably, MP Nurainash Kamalova had recently proposed formalizing employment in Kazakhstan’s cleaning sector and establishing a comprehensive system of professional training and social guarantees for workers in the industry.
According to Kamalova, low official wages often force cleaning workers to seek additional income outside formal employment arrangements. This can put their social and pension benefits, labor rights and other forms of social protection at risk.
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