Proposed merger of child allowances into a single benefit package.
Let's get down to the nitty-gritty: Deputies from the People's Party of Kazakhstan, led by Aigan Skakova, have proposed an interesting idea—merging all children's allowances into one, bumping it up to the average wage. According to Total.kz, Skakova shared this during a plenary session in the Mazhilis.
Skakova, in a deputy request to the deputy prime minister, suggests that this universal child allowance should cover the child's needs as well as the mother's needs during childcare. She proposes that this allowance should be guaranteed to each child under 18, based on birth and citizenship of RK.
Moreover, Skakova doubles down on extending the period of childcare to three years, creating a housing program with adapted requirements for these categories, offering zero percent interest rate, no initial payment, and simplified confirmation of three-year residency for potential participants.
As an example, the deputy lists confirmation of temporary registration and a certificate of attendance of their children in kindergarten or school during this period.
Skakova also pushes for the restoration of the program of transferring rental housing with the right to buy for families raising children with disabilities, and the allocation of land plots in rural areas of 20 hectares to large and single-parent families.
The deputy explains her reasoning by comparing the monthly childcare allowance for unemployed women (ranging from 560 to 865 tenge per child) to the amount spent on feeding one prisoner (1,018 tenge). She argues that the current allowance, while aiming to support children, falls short, especially when the 1st quarter of 2021 average monthly nominal wage was 230,829 tenge.
Now, while there's no specific information available about a universal child allowance proposal by Aigan Skakova, let's shine some light on Kazakhstan's initiatives related to child development and support.
UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Health in Kazakhstan to adapt the Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD) for use in the country, aiming to support child development within primary healthcare settings[1]. Kazakhstan has also been investing in teacher training for inclusive education as part of broader educational reforms since 2016 to create a more supportive learning environment[2]. Lastly, various economic and social reforms are underway to enhance the well-being of Kazakhstan's citizens, including children.
In conclusion, details on the amount and proposed changes to Aigan Skakova's universal child allowance proposal are scarce, necessitating further research or official announcements to obtain these details.
- Deputies from the People's Party of Kazakhstan, led by Aigan Skakova, have proposed merging all children's allowances into one and increasing it to the average wage, as shared during a plenary session in the Mazhilis.
- Skakova, in her deputy request to the deputy prime minister, suggests that this universal child allowance should cover the child's needs and the mother's needs during childcare.
- Skakova also proposes extending the childcare period to three years and creating a housing program with adapted requirements for these categories, offering benefits such as zero percent interest rates and simplified residency confirmation.
- In her proposal, Skakova highlights the need to restore the program of transferring rental housing with the right to buy for families raising children with disabilities, and the allocation of land plots in rural areas for large and single-parent families.
- Skakova compares the current monthly childcare allowance for unemployed women to the amount spent on feeding one prisoner, arguing that the current allowance falls short, especially when compared to the 1st quarter of 2021 average monthly nominal wage.
