The sectoral union of coal miners has stated the need to adopt a law on the status of miners. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
According to union representative Alexander Nazarenko, in Karaganda region alone, the number of miners recognized as disabled due to occupational diseases exceeds 3,000 people. They are fighting not only illness but also legislative injustice.
"Kazakhstan needs to adopt a special law on the status of miners. Within its framework, social issues of coal industry workers should be systematically regulated. Decent wages, compensation, social benefits, early retirement – all this should be taken into account. Because miners cannot be forced to work until the general retirement age only with the help of medicines and vaccinations," Nazarenko said at the coal industry forum in Astana.
According to him, the coal industry is the sector with the highest risk of occupational injuries in Kazakhstan. At the end of 2025, 220 cases of occupational injuries were recorded in the mining and coal industry.