A lack of formal employment does not relieve parents of the obligation to support their children. Bailiff Dauren Onlasyn said this at a briefing at the regional communications service, answering a question about whether unemployed Kazakhs can avoid paying child support, infohub.kz reports.
According to the speaker, the absence of official work does not terminate child support obligations in Kazakhstan. He cited the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Enforcement Proceedings and the Status of Bailiffs": if there is no income, the debt is calculated based on the average wage in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
"Therefore, the debtor's position—'I don't officially work anywhere, so I shouldn't pay child support'—is legally untenable," Dauren Onlasyn noted.
He also explained the liability for failure to comply with a court act on the collection of child support. If there are no signs of a criminal offense, the debtor may be held administratively liable under Article 669 of the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Administrative Offenses.
In cases of prolonged non-payment of child support, criminal liability arises under Article 139 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. If a parent fails to pay child support for more than three months, they may be assigned up to 600 hours of community service, restricted in freedom, or imprisoned for up to 2 years. In addition, Article 430 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan may be applied, Dauren Onlasyn summarized.
Earlier it was reported that Kazakhstan will change the procedure for paying child support starting August 25. Experts reminded and explained what residents of the country definitely need to know.