Worker’s Representation: Foreign Practice and the Prospects for Reforms in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Abstract

The article deals with the problems and the ways to reform the institution of employee representation in the context of a social partnership model in Kazakhstan. The scientific-theoretical and practical grounds for institution of worker representation are analyzed. The foreign experience in organizing a social partnership using continental Europe as an example (particularly Austria and Germany) is studied. The authors make a conclusion about the necessary measures to improve the institution of worker representation. Taking into consideration the Republic of Kazakhstan’s transition to the continental business community model, the optimal model of social partnership for Kazakhstan is an Austrian model based on equal social partners’ functioning, i.e., economic chambers or the chambers of entrepreneurs and labor chambers. To guarantee a balance of interests between employers and workers in the Republic of Kazakhstan, it is necessary to establish a Republican labor chamber on the basis of an independent act with a mandatory membership of all the employees of organizations-members of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. When implementing the above model, the system of trade unions representing industrial and professional interests of employees should be preserved on a voluntary basis.