Will December 31 be a day off in Kazakhstan?

Tengrinews.kz - It has been confirmed whether December 31 will be an official holiday in Kazakhstan.
Kazakh citizens have repeatedly requested that December 31 be established as an official day off. The arguments are clear: New Year's Eve is a family holiday, and an additional day off would allow people to spend more time with their loved ones, prepare festive meals, and relieve the year's stress. Additionally, citizens have pointed out that such a measure could positively impact consumer activity, supporting small and medium-sized businesses.
Tengrinews.kz reached out to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Kazakhstan to find out if December 31 will be made a day off.
Will December 31 be a day off?
The ministry responded that, according to the "Public Holidays in Kazakhstan" law, the official holidays are January 1 and 2. These dates are recognized as public holidays and, therefore, non-working days. The inclusion of December 31 as an official day off, in the ministry's opinion, is not deemed necessary.

"We consider the proposal to make December 31 a day off unnecessary. However, it should be noted that the ministry is not the authorized body for establishing national and state holidays. Our role is limited to approving the list of professional holidays, which, in turn, are not considered days off," the ministry stated.

Could December 31 be made a day off by switching to another working day?
In response to the possibility of shifting a working day to make December 31 a day off, the ministry also gave a negative answer. They emphasized that their functions are limited to approving professional holidays, which do not involve time off.
As a result, in the final month of 2024, Kazakh citizens with a five-day workweek will have 10 days off. More details about December's holiday schedule can be found in our previous article.
Kazakhstan’s New Year 2025 holidays announced© Tengrinews.kz
What about the January 2025 schedule?
In January, Kazakhstanis with a five-day workweek will have time off from January 1 to 4 for the New Year, while those with a six-day workweek will rest from January 1 to 3.
January 2025 Calendar:

January 1-4: Public holidays for New Year.
January 5 (Sunday) and January 6: Workdays.
January 7: Public holiday for Orthodox Christmas.
January 8-10: Workdays.
January 11-12: Weekend.

© Tengrinews.kz
In 2025, Kazakhstanis will have 121 days off and 244 working days.
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