Men in Kazakhstan are entitled to take parental leave, but they will not receive maternity payments. This was announced at a briefing at the Central Communications Service by Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Asqarbek Yertaev, reports infohub.kz.
According to the head of the ministry, many Kazakhstanis are asking whether maternity payments will be provided to men after the benefits reform.
"Under the adopted law, maternity payments are intended only for mothers. This is due to the change in the purpose of the payment: it is aimed at supporting the woman and child, including the restoration of the mother's health. At the same time, a man can take parental leave and care for the child himself, but he will not receive the maternity payment," said Minister of Labor and Social Protection Asqarbek Yertaev.
He added that when the father takes parental leave, the mother can return to work and continue receiving the payments provided to her from the State Social Insurance Fund until the child reaches 1.5 years of age.
"For families in categories C, D, and E, if they have the corresponding right, payments from the republican budget are also provided. The father can be on parental leave and raise the child," the minister said.
Earlier, it was reported who among Kazakhstanis will be classified into categories A (wealthy), B (well-off), C (with income from 305,000), D (at the poverty line), and E (the most vulnerable category).