Kyrgyzstan is a country in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan, China, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It’s known for its young population and skilled workforce of 3.19 million people (2024), and its market-oriented economy with a GDP of 13.99 billion US dollars (2023).

The economy of Kyrgyzstan is more open compared with other Central Asian countries, with few restrictions on private enterprise and cost-effective labor costs. More employers are choosing Kyrgyzstan when expanding their businesses abroad, particularly due to their stable supply of skilled, often bilingual workers and focus on industries such as agriculture, mining, energy, and services.

This help guide will provide companies expanding into Kyrgyzstan with a thorough overview of local labor laws, along with key information on mandatory employee benefits. We’ll also explain how Remote People can support your business in Kyrgyzstan through our Employer of Record (EOR) services.

Kyrgyzstan Employment Laws

The main labor laws in Kyrgyzstan are governed by the Labour Code of the Kyrgyz Republic. This act was adopted in 2004 and covers aspects of employment law such as contracts, working hours, leave entitlements, and termination procedures.

Other relevant acts to Kyrgyzstan’s labor laws include the following:

  • Law on Trade Unions (2000)
  • Law on Civil Service (2004)
  • Social Fund Law
  • Tax Code of the Kyrgyz Republic
  • Law on Occupational Safety and Health (2003)
  • Law on Minimal Social Standards (2009)
  • Law on Employment Promotion and Protection Against Unemployment (1998)
  • Law on the Status of Foreign Nationals in Kyrgyzstan

When hiring employees in Kyrgyzstan, we recommend that companies consult with legal experts for detailed compliance. This will help ensure that employment practices adhere to the latest legislation set by local labor laws and simplify the process of hiring in Kyrgyzstan. 

Mandatory Employee Benefits in Kyrgyzstan

There are a number of key mandatory employee benefits that companies must provide to their workers in Kyrgyzstan. We’ve detailed the main benefit entitlements in the sections below.

Social Security Contributions

Kyrgyzstan has a social protection system that aims to provide social insurance to workers to fund pensions, monthly benefits for low-income families, and illness/maternity benefits. Social insurance rates in Kyrgyzstan are as follows:

Contributor Contribution Details
Insured Workers 8% of monthly earnings for social insurance & NDC, plus 2% for a mandatory individual account
Self-Employed Workers 10% of average monthly earnings
Employer 15.25% of monthly payroll (includes funding for sickness, maternity, and work injury benefits)
Government Funds the full cost of social assistance benefits and attendance supplements for individuals with disabilities

Annual Paid Leave

Workers in Kyrgyzstan are entitled to 28 calendar days of paid annual leave per year, provided that they have completed 11 months of consecutive work with the same employer.

Some employers agree that workers can receive annual leave at earlier points in their period of service; however, this is subject to the discretion of the employer.

Public holidays are usually considered separate from annual leave entitlement.

Unused annual leave may be carried over to the next calendar year upon mutual agreement between employer and employee; however, at least 14 days of consecutive annual leave must be taken each year.

Working Hours

The typical working week in Kyrgyzstan is 40 hours, with employees generally working five 8-hour days per week.

At least one day off is provided per week, which is usually taken on a Sunday.

Some employees will be eligible for reduced working hours, such as those aged between 14 – 16, disabled workers, and those working in hazardous conditions.

Night work is defined as any hours worked between 10 pm and 6 am, with workers being compensated financially at the rate of 1.5 times their normal wage. Pregnant women, under-18-year-olds, and disabled workers may be restricted from working night hours.

Overtime Pay

Employees in Kyrgyzstan carrying out work above their normal contracted hours are eligible for overtime compensation.

Overtime is generally compensated at a rate of 1.5 times an employee’s normal wage for the first 2 hours of overtime worked, and twice their wage for any subsequent hours worked. Alternatively, the employee may request additional time off in return for working overtime.

Workers are not obligated to work overtime and may refuse it if offered.

Pregnant women and disabled workers in Kyrgyzstan are allowed to work overtime, unless there’s a medical statement present that prohibits it. Under-18-year-olds and those working in hazardous conditions are generally exempt from working overtime.

Public Holiday Leave

Kyrgyzstan celebrates several public holidays, which tend to be considered paid days off for employees. The public holidays in Kyrgyzstan are as follows:

  • New Year (1 January)
  • New Year Holiday (2–6 January)
  • Orthodox Christmas Day (7 January)
  • Defender of the Fatherland Day (23 February)
  • International Women’s Day (8 March)
  • Nooruz National Holiday (21 March)
  • Orozo Ait (20 March) (date varies)
  • Day Off for Orozo Ait (21 March) (date varies)
  • April People’s Revolution Day (7 April)
  • May Day (1 May)
  • May Day Holiday (2–4 May) (date varies)
  • Constitution Day of the Kyrgyz Republic (5 May)
  • Constitution Day Holiday (6–7 May) (date varies)
  • Victory Day Holiday (8 May) (date varies)
  • Victory Day (9 May)
  • Kurman Ait (27 May) (date varies)
  • Independence Day of the Kyrgyz Republic (31 August)
  • Days of History and Memory of Ancestors (7 November)
  • Days of History and Memory of Ancestors Holiday (8 November) (date varies)

Sick Leave

Employees in Kyrgyzstan are entitled to sick leave (also known as temporary incapacity allowance) if they are absent from work due to illness.

The amount payable while on sick leave is generally calculated based on experience. This is usually paid as follows for the first 10 working days of sickness:

Years of Service Sick Leave Pay
Less than 5 years 60% of regular pay
5 – 8 years 80% of regular pay
More than 8 years 100% of regular pay

If employees are absent from work for over 10 working days, they are usually paid 50 times the basic rate in Kyrgyzstan. Employees must provide a medical certificate to be eligible for sick leave.

Maternity Leave

Female employees are entitled to 126 calendar days of maternity leave in Kyrgyzstan. This is usually divided into 70 days before birth and 56 days after birth.

The first 10 days of maternity leave are usually paid by the employer, with the remaining days being covered by social insurance.

Parents of close relatives are eligible for 36 months of unpaid leave to care for a child.

Paternity Leave

Male workers in Kyrgyzstan are entitled to take 14 days of unpaid leave if they have a baby. Paternity leave requires approval from an employer and is not a statutory right.

Severance Pay

Employees who have had their contracts terminated in Kyrgyzstan may be eligible for severance pay, which is calculated based on the reasons for termination and length of service. This is usually calculated at a minimum of 2 months’ average wages. 

Pensions

The pension system in Kyrgyzstan is split into mandatory pension insurance and voluntary private pension schemes.

Mandatory pension insurance consists of a pay-as-you-go system, which is funded by employer contributions, plus individual savings accounts, which are funded by employee contributions.

Voluntary private pensions provide additional funds for workers upon retirement age, but are not currently widespread.

Supplementary Employee Benefits in Kyrgyzstan

Companies are encouraged to offer employees supplementary benefits to improve the chances of job applications and increase employee retention. Some examples is supplementary benefits include:

  • Performance bonuses
  • Company vehicle
  • Enhanced leave entitlement
  • Flexible working
  • Private pension
  • Advanced training opportunities

Optimize Employee Benefits with Remote People

Remote People can help you streamline hiring in Kyrgyzstan with a range of services.

Our Employer of Record (EOR) services are designed to support compliant hiring in Kyrgyzstan. Acting as the legal employer, the EOR takes on responsibilities such as managing benefit compliance and ensuring that each stage of the hiring process aligns with local labor laws.

We can help you hire employees and contractors directly with our recruitment services, with a team experienced in the Kyrgyzstan recruitment space. They know the local language, customs, and the best places to position your job adverts to ensure the best talent for your business.

Our PEO services are another offering that could help your business, particularly if you’re looking to optimize HR, payroll, and further compliance.

Contact Remote People today to see how we can help expand your business into Kyrgyzstan.