The Research School of Labour Law

About the Research School Current projects Completed projects RESEARCH SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP Research seminars Student clubs

The Research School of Labour Law has been operating at Maqsut Narikbayev University since 2019.

Its mission is to promote high academic standards in both scientific and practical research, as well as in the teaching of labour law in the Republic of Kazakhstan, with a strong emphasis on the implementation and advancement of international labour standards.

The School brings together core academic staff, PhD candidates, master’s and undergraduate students who collaborate on various research initiatives.
Over the past six years, the Research School has produced more than 50 scientific publications and supported numerous dissertation projects.

3 PhD Candidates (Voitkovskaya Ilona; Zhurunova Mereke; Seydimbek Aybar)

12 Master’s Degree Holders in Law (Alpysbai Rosa; Amanbaikyzy Dinara; Baikenova Gauhar; Bakhytzhan Banu; Berik Dina; Bukenov Ruslan; Yergeshbaev Umitbek; Eschanova Saltanat; Kenzhetaeva Almira; Kanatkyzy Madina; Alibek Mukanov; Asset Khabibulayeva)

5 Additional Master’s Degree Holders in Law (Bolatuly Alibek; Zhusipalieva Aida; Kaldygulova Dybys; Kuanyshbaeva Ulzhan; Tulegen Alisher)

37 Bachelor’s Degrees in Law

Priority Research Areas:

International Labour Law
Comparative Labour Law
Labour Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Trade Union Law
Digitalisation and the World of Work
New Forms of Employment

The School also engages in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of labour law and other legal domains, including:

Civil and Corporate Law
Administrative Law
Social Security Law
Migration Law
Digital Law

Key Members of the Research School

Nikita Lyutov

Doctor of Law, Professor, Associate Professor at Maqsut Narikbayev University

Professor Nikita Lyutov is a leading expert in international and comparative labour law. According to the National H-Index Rating for 2025, he ranks 37th overall among scholars in Kazakhstan based on his Google Scholar h-index, and holds 1st place among legal scholars in the country: https://kz.h-index.com/en/scholar1000.

He was also named the top legal scholar in the field of labour law and social security law in an anonymous academic reputation survey of Russian legal experts (see: Bocharov T.Yu., Khodzhaeva E.A., Academic reputations and social portrait of Russian legal scholars, edited by K.D. Titaev. St. Petersburg: Institute of Law Enforcement Problems, European University, 2022. p. 22. Link to publication).

From 2014 to 2022, he served as Head of the Department of Labour Law and Social Security Law at O.E. Kutafin University (MGUA), Russia. From 2019 to 2025, he has been Extraordinary Professor at the School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. He has also held visiting professorships at numerous international universities.

Areas of Specialisation

Professor Lyutov’s academic focus is on international and comparative labour law, with particular emphasis on:

The alignment of labour law systems in Eastern Europe and Central Asia with international labour standards;
Regional labour regulation frameworks within the EAEU, Council of Europe, European Union, and other regional bodies;
The impact of globalisation and transnational corporations (TNCs) on global labour standards;
Legal transformations of labour relations in post-industrial societies;
New forms of employment in the context of digitalisation (e.g. remote work, platform-based work).

Professional Involvement

Professor Lyutov is a member of the Steering Committee of the Labour Law Research Network (LLRN) and serves on the editorial boards of several international legal journals.

He is the author of more than 220 publications, including monographs, textbooks, teaching guides, and numerous scholarly and practical articles published in leading Russian and international journals. His research spans Russian, comparative, and international labour law.

As of June 2025, his Google Scholar h-index is 39, with over 6,200 citations—the highest in the field of labour and social security law in Central and Eastern Europe.

Research for the International Labour Organization (ILO)

Between 2016 and 2025, Professor Lyutov led several expert research projects for the International Labour Organization (ILO), including:

Assessments of labour law reforms in Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan;
Analyses of social protection and labour regulation in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan);
Evaluation of the impact of deregulatory reforms initiated by international financial institutions on labour inspection systems in post-Soviet countries;
Assessment of Kazakhstan’s potential ratification of ILO Convention No. 190 (Violence and Harassment at Work, 2019);
Studies on informal employment and compliance of draft legislation with international labour standards.

You can access his publications on ResearchGate:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nikita-Lyutov

Muslim Khassenov

PhD in Law, Associate Professor at Maqsut Narikbayev University

Ombudsman for Young Scientists, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Dr. Muslim Khassenov is an accomplished legal scholar and a prominent public figure actively engaged in academia, public service, and international cooperation. He plays a key role in shaping legal policy in Kazakhstan through active membership in a wide range of expert and advisory bodies, including:

National Commission for Women and Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Scientific Advisory Council under the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Expert Club under the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Public Chamber under the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Expert Council under the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Dialogue Platform on Human Dimension at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Expert Council under the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Chambers of Legal Consultants “Iustus”
Association of Independent Directors “QID”

Dr. Khassenov has played a significant role in the certification of academic personnel. From 2020 to 2024, he served as an expert and scientific secretary of the Expert Council on Law under the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education (formerly the Higher Attestation Commission). Since 2024, he has served as the Academic Secretary of the Dissertation Council on Law at Maqsut Narikbayev University and a permanent member of the Dissertation Council on Law at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.

He has contributed his expertise to numerous projects led by international organisations, including the International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), World Bank, UNDP, and UN Women, as well as various ministries and state agencies in Kazakhstan.

Research Interests

Labour Law
Civil Law
Human Rights
International Law

Dr. Khassenov is the author and co-author of over 100 scientific publications, including monographs and textbooks in both Russian and English on labour, commercial, and economic law. Several of his monographs have been published by the prestigious international publishing house Wolters Kluwer (Netherlands) and are held in major academic libraries around the world.

Honours and Awards

“Altyn Belgi” (Gold Medal) — distinction in secondary education
State Medal “Yeren enbegi ushin” (“For Labour Distinction”, 2024)
Medal of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan “For Contribution to Strengthening Constitutional Legality” (2023)
Badge “For Services to the Development of Science in the Republic of Kazakhstan” (2022)
State Youth Award “Daryn” in the category “Science” (2018)
First President’s Foundation Award for 1st place in the competition “Best Young Lawyer of the Year” in the category “Contribution to Legal Science” (2018)
Medal of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken” III degree (2016)
Medals of the National Economic Chamber “Atameken Union” II and III degrees for contributions to economic development and entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan (2013, 2015)

Assiya Komekova

Candidate of Juridical Sciences, Professor, Teaching Professor at Maqsut Narikbayev University

Assiya Kanatovna Komekova is a distinguished professor at Maqsut Narikbayev University, actively engaged in academic, educational, and research activities in the field of international and contract law.

As part of the Belt and Road Initiative, she contributed to the international scientific and practical conference “Legal Protection of International Agreements and Contracts in the Context of Globalization”, where the proceedings were published and disseminated among the academic community.

Professional Development and Training Certificates

Professor Komekova has successfully completed the following professional development programmes:

Training session: “Trial at the AIFC Court from a Kazakh Practitioner’s Perspective” (29.01.2025, 6 academic hours)
International Scientific and Practical Conference: “Legal Protection of International Agreements and Contracts in the Context of Globalization” (26.02.2025, 8 academic hours)
Forum: “Teachers of Kazakhstan: Innovation in Education” (8 academic hours)
Qualification Improvement Course: “Disease Prevention: Strategies and Techniques” (17–28.02.2025, 80 academic hours)

Acknowledgements and Certificates of Appreciation

Professor Komekova received official letters of gratitude:

From the organisers of the International Scientific and Practical Conference on Legal Protection of International Agreements and Contracts (LLP “First Economic Arbitration”)
From the National Testing Centre of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan for her active participation and collaboration

Student Mentorship

She actively mentors young legal scholars. Her student, Aknur Espolkyzy, a 3rd-year undergraduate, participated in the “MNU Annual Legal Conference – 2025” with a presentation titled:
“Legal Protection of Kazakhstani Migrant Workers: Shadow Aspects of Illegal Employment and International Legal Responsibility.”

Ilona Voitkovska

PhD Student, Senior Lecturer at Maqsut Narikbayev University

Ilona Voitkovska is a doctoral candidate and senior lecturer at Maqsut Narikbayev University. She has authored 15 scientific publications, with an h-index of 8 (Google Scholar) and over 250 citations, making her one of the most cited young researchers at MNU. Two of her articles are indexed in Scopus (Q2).

She earned her Master of Law from MNU in May 2025 and is currently completing her PhD thesis in English on the topic:
“Termination of an Employment Contract by Agreement of the Parties: A Comparative Legal Study on Possibilities and Limitations”,
under the supervision of Professor N.L. Lyutov, Doctor of Law.

Ilona completed international research internships at the University of Warsaw (2023) and the University of Groningen (2025). She also has practical legal experience in civil, administrative, and criminal law. Since 2024, she has been teaching Labour Law in English to students of the International School of Economics, earning consistently high evaluations in student surveys.

Since 2018, she has participated in research projects for the International Labour Organization (ILO), addressing key challenges such as violence and harassment in the workplace, collective labour rights, and labour disputes in post-Soviet countries across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Ilona is a regular participant in international conferences on labour law and continues to enhance her expertise in both legal research and higher education teaching.

Her scientific works are available on ResearchGate:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ilona-Voitkovska
She also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Research School of Labour Law’s Facebook page

Zhurunova Mereke

PhD Student, Senior Lecturer, Maqsut Narikbayev University

Scientific Publications:
Mereke Zhurunova is actively engaged in research, regularly publishing in leading international and national academic journals. She is the author of peer-reviewed articles indexed in Scopus, as well as publications listed by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Her research focuses on labour law, social protection, new forms of employment, and the interdisciplinary legal implications of digitalisation.

She is currently working on her PhD dissertation titled “The Right to Work in the EAEU” under the supervision of Professor N. Lyutov, Doctor of Law.

Professional Development:

Completed the certification programme “HR and Law” (72 academic hours), organised by the Research School of Labour Law, from March 11 to June 3, 2025.

Expert Activities:

Took part as a legal expert in the public discussion and drafting of the Law on Amendments to the Labour Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, organised by the Institute of Legislation and Legal Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan (January 2025).

Supervisory Work:

Successfully supervised 2 undergraduate students, both of whom achieved 92–95% on the defence of their thesis projects.

Kanatkyzy Madina

Master of Laws, Research Assistant

Madina Kanatkyzy’s academic interests lie in labour law, human rights, and occupational safety. She is the winner of the MNU Research Fellow – 2024 competition, recipient of the “Kukyk Bolashagy” certificate at the MNU Annual Legal Conference (2024), and 2nd place prize-winner of the XII International Student and Undergraduate Scientific Paper Competition in Labour Law named after L.S. Tal – 2025.

She is the author of several scholarly publications on topical issues in labour law, including the legal regulation of workplace stress and judicial practice regarding the legality of strikes in Kazakhstan, with particular emphasis on compliance with international labour standards.

Madina is the administrator of the Instagram page @mnu_labour_law_school, where legal topics and developments in legal science are presented in an accessible and interactive format.

In 2024, she completed the AXIS Academy Summer School, gaining expertise in academic writing and social research methodology. In 2025, she participated in the MIRAI (Rule of Law) programme organised by JICE with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. That same year, she presented her report “Analysis of Judicial Practice on Labour Protection in Central Asian Countries” at the Labour Law Research Network (LLRN) 2025 international conference in Bangkok.

Madina also provides professional legal translation between Russian and Kazakh, ensuring the correct use of legal terminology within the Research School of Labour Law.

She is currently preparing to apply for the doctoral programme at MNU in 2025.

Doctoral Students:

Aybar Seidimbek
Farid Aliyev
Amangeldy Zhumabekov
Karina Sabirova
Aigerim Asemgaliyeva

Master’s Students:

Aliyar Almagambet
Malika Mashanlo
Aldiyar Kalikanov
Zhainar Idrisov
Akmaral Yesengaliyeva
Aliya Kadyrova
Ruslan Dikhanbekov
Zhadyra Musayeva
Ayazhan Adiyeva
Ruslan Maksharbekov
Sanzhar Yerken

Current Projects

Reforming Collective Labour Law in Kazakhstan (since February 2024). A draft law on the regulation of collective labour relations has been developed by the Project Office of the Senate of the Parliament and the Research School of Labour Law at MNU. A Working Group was established in the Senate to review the draft law, and between March 20 and June 25 (a period of 3 months), 17 meetings were held. Currently, the draft law is under consideration in the Mazhilis of the Parliament as a parliamentary initiative.
Analysis of the compliance of Kazakhstan’s labour legislation and law enforcement practices with international labour standards (ongoing);
International academic cooperation within the framework of the Labour Law Research Network (LLRN) (http://www.labourlawresearch.net/) and other academic platforms;
Analysis of judicial practice in labour disputes (ongoing);
Labour law seminars for the general public (ongoing).

Completed Projects

HR and Law Professional Certification Programme

This programme was first launched in 2021. The first cohort successfully completed the course in 2021, followed by the second in 2023, the third in 2024, and the fourth in June 2025.

This is the flagship practice-oriented initiative of the Research School of Labour Law. In 2025, we enhanced our capacity, improved the programme structure, and updated the content.

In 2025 alone, 55 participants from across Kazakhstan completed the course. The total number of graduates since the programme’s inception now exceeds 150. Thanks to the online format, we were able to ensure broad regional representation.

Among our participants are senior executives and leading specialists from trade unions and employers’ associations, legal and HR departments, as well as professors and university lecturers.

The programme itself stands out for several reasons:

First, the content. The 72-hour intensive course, held three times a week over three months (March to June), covers all aspects of labour relations and the fundamentals of HR management.
Over 120 court cases, including the most recent ones, are examined in detail.

The programme consists of 7 modules:

Regulation of labour relations. Employment contracts: structures and legal enforcement;
Legal risk management in HR and personnel administration;
Social partnership and collective labour relations;
HR component;
Change management. Organisational structure. Performance-based remuneration (KPI-based);
Working time regimes and wage systems;
Resolution of labour disputes and conflicts.

Second, all course materials are systematised in digital format.
All training materials—including presentations, court decisions, and video recordings of lectures—are available on the educational platform Canvas, which is accessible to all participants.

Third, the teaching staff. The programme is delivered by 7 highly qualified experts with significant practical experience. Our lecturers represent a strong combination of academic and applied expertise:

Muslim Khassenov, programme author and coordinator, PhD in Law, Associate Professor at the Higher School of Law, Maqsut Narikbayev University, expert in labour law and author of a labour law textbook;
Nikita Lyutov, internationally recognised scholar in labour law, Doctor of Law, Associate Professor at the Higher School of Law, Maqsut Narikbayev University, expert for the International Labour Organization;
Aibek Amangeldin, Judge of the Specialised Court of Astana, Lecturer at the Academy of Justice under the High Judicial Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Master of Laws;
Ester Babajanyan, Master of Laws, Teaching Professor at the Higher School of Law, Head of the Legal Clinic at Maqsut Narikbayev University, practising lawyer and legal consultant for courts;
Anar Kusainova, PhD in Management, Director of Strategy and HR Department, Teaching Professor at Maqsut Narikbayev University;
Zhan-Tore Ayazbekov, Master of Economics, graduate of Lomonosov Moscow State University and Queen Mary University of London, Teaching Professor at the International School of Economics, Maqsut Narikbayev University, HR and Change Management consultant, holder of international certifications (CIPD, IPMA);
Lauera Zakey, Master of Laws, labour law specialist, Director of “Law&Work” NGO, ICF/ILO coach, EBRD mentor/ambassador, and PhD candidate.

All lecturers combine practical and academic backgrounds, ensuring that participants receive both applied knowledge and a strong scientific foundation.

According to our observations, there are currently no analogues of this programme on the market. The course offers a unique interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of law, HR management, and conflict resolution.

Research School Partnership

Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan – membership in the Scientific Advisory Council and preparation of expert legal opinions;
Supreme Court and other courts of the Republic of Kazakhstan – preparation of expert legal opinions;
Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan – membership in the Expert Club, the Inclusion Council, and participation in legislative working groups;
Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan – membership in the Public Chamber and participation in legislative working groups;
Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan – membership in the Expert Council and preparation of expert legal opinions;
Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan – participation in working groups;
Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan – membership in the Expert Council of the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan and training for trade union leaders and activists;
National Confederation of Employers “PARYZ” – providing explanations on labour legislation.

Professors of the Research School collaborate with scholars from leading international research centres, including:

Germany (Goethe University Frankfurt, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg);
Italy (University of Bologna, University of Bergamo);
Hungary (Pázmány Péter Catholic University);
Poland (University of Warsaw, University of Łódź);
Lithuania (Vilnius University);
Estonia (University of Tartu), and others.

Research Seminars

Events in 2025:

February 18, 2025 – A roundtable discussion titled “Labour Arbitration in Kazakhstan: What Needs to Change in Labour Legislation and Practice?” was held at the MIND platform with the participation of international scholars (Irina Filippova and Marina Sedelnikova), Members of the Mazhilis and Senate, government representatives, trade unions, employers, doctoral students, master’s students, and undergraduate students.
April 30, 2025 – The Research School was actively represented at the annual academic conference MNU Legal Conference. N. Lyutov and M. Khassenov presented the results of their research within the framework of a legislative initiative by the Senate Project Office. Additionally, 8 academic papers by master’s and bachelor’s students were submitted to the labour law section, 5 of which were successfully presented.
May 14, 2025 – M. Khassenov conducted a workshop on “Developing Effective Anti-Discrimination Policy in Kazakhstan”, where a draft concept for a unified Anti-Discrimination Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan was presented.

Events of 2024:

Labour Law Days were held from October 1 to 11, 2024, during which a series of open lectures and seminars took place. All events were covered on social media.
On October 7, 2024, MNU held a roundtable at the MIND platform on the topic: “Approaches to the Legal Regulation of Labour in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Other Technologies” with the participation of international scholars (Irina Filippova and Marina Sedelnikova), a Member of the Mazhilis, trade unions, doctoral students, master’s students, and undergraduate students.
On February 13, 2024, a roundtable was held with the participation of social partners, where an initiative draft law on the reform of collective labour law was presented.
On April 22, 2024, a discussion on collective labour law was held jointly with experts from Poland on the topic: “The Role of Trade Unions in Political Transformation: A Comparison between Poland and Kazakhstan.”

In the first semester of the 2024–2025 academic year, Project-Based Learning (PBL) was successfully piloted for the second consecutive year with undergraduate students. Seventeen students prepared academic papers on labour law, which were successfully defended on December 13, 2024, at the MNU Law School Showcase 2024:

Problems of Regulating the Work of Judges (Andreichikov Ilya and Ramankulov Ilyas) – took 3rd place among more than 100 research projects.
Problems in Wage Regulation (Baktygerey Botakoz and Nurtazina Dariya)
Legal Regulation of Labour in the Transport Sector (Abdraimova Alnur and Akhmedov Latif)
Specifics of Labour Regulation in Agriculture (Yertaev Rasul and Smailova Aigerim)
AI and Labour Law (Zhumabek Aruzhan)
Legal Regulation of Rotational Work (Kaldybaeva Amina and Amirova Amina)
Legal Regulation of Platform Employment (Atalykova Merey and Asan Diana)
Evaluative Concepts: Problems of Application (Bakiyan Makhabbat and Sembayeva Nazereke)
Abuse of Rights in Labour Relations (Sapina Zhanelya and Usenko Anna)

N. Lyutov:

Participated in the International Research and Practical Conference of the Russian Research Institute for Labour with the participation of the ILO Director-General on “The Knowledge Economy and the Socio-Labour Sphere in the Era of Artificial Intelligence” – 09.09.2024;
Participated in the International Research and Practical Conference “Skobelkin Readings” at Omsk State University (Russia), delivered a presentation on “Promoting International Labour Standards in Eastern Europe and Central Asia in 2022–2024” – online, 11–12.10.2024;
Participated in the International Research and Practical Conference of Al-Farabi KazNU “Improvement of the Employment Contract in the Context of Reforms and Digitalisation of Labour Legislation in the EAEU Countries,” gave a plenary lecture titled “Problems of Legal Qualification of Platform Employment in the Context of International Law” – online, 31.10.2024;
Conducted a training seminar for educators from Pakistan on teaching methodology in international labour law – in coordination with the ILO Regional Office (New Delhi) (online) – 02.11.2025;
Participated in the Annual SPL 2024 Policy and Law Forum “Political and Legal Aspects of Combating Gender Inequality and Domestic Violence in the Republic of Kazakhstan” (Almaty), delivered an online presentation on “What Should Kazakhstan Do to Be Ready to Ratify ILO Convention No. 190 (2019) on the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work?” – 8 November 2024;
Participated in the international research seminar “Living Wage: Contrasting Regional Approaches and Economic Considerations” (St. Petersburg State University, Russia), delivered an online presentation on “The Legal Framework for Minimum Wage in Russia and Kazakhstan: Are the Approaches Similar?” – 10.01.2025;
Organised the Roundtable “Labour Arbitration in Kazakhstan: What Needs to Be Changed in Labour Legislation and Practice?” – Labour Law Research School in cooperation with MIND, 19 February 2025;
Participated in the academic roundtable An Uncertain Future of Collective Bargaining in Central and Eastern European Countries – University of Warsaw, 4 March 2025 (jointly with I.V. Voitkovskaya);
Delivered a guest lecture “Why Do We Need International Labour Standards if We Have National Labour Law?” – Dharmashastra National Law University (India), 9 April 2025;
Participated in the academic roundtable “Economic Adaptability: Theoretical and Practical Aspects,” Astana International University, 24 April 2025;
Organised a Research Workshop “Prospects of Kazakhstan Ratifying the ILO Minimum Wage Convention” (jointly with MIND) – 5 May 2025;
Organised a roundtable “Research Activities of the MNU Labour Law School: Challenges, Achievements, and Prospects” – Labour Law Research School in cooperation with MIND, 12 May 2025;
Participated in the international roundtable “Conflict Between Individual and Collective in Labour Disputes: Legislative and Judicial Ambiguities,” Centre for Social and Labour Rights (Russia), 12 May 2025 (online), source;
Organised the International Scientific Roundtable “Kazakhstan and Canada as Important Hubs for Global and Regional Migration. Exchange of Experiences in Managing Migration,” 28 May 2025, jointly with MIND;
Participated in the Senate Working Group discussions on amendments to legislation concerning the resolution of collective labour disputes, based on proposals by the Labour Law Research School in 2024, hosted at MIND – on a regular basis throughout the year (jointly with M. Khassenov and I.V. Voitkovskaya);
Participated in the expert review of the draft law “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Improving Labour Legislation,” prepared by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan (jointly with M.Kh. Khasenov) – upon the Provost’s request, January 2025;
Delivered a scientific lecture “Eurasian Economic Union & EU Labour Law: What Sets Them Apart from a Cross-Regional Perspective?” – University of Halle (Germany), 10 June 2025;
Delivered a guest lecture “Is International Labour Law No Longer Relevant in Times of the Fourth Industrial Revolution?” – University of Halle (Germany), 11 June 2025;
Participated in the International Scientific Conference of the Labour Law Research Network, Bangkok, 29 June – 1 July 2025.

M. Khassenov:

On 8 January 2024, delivered a speech at a roundtable on combating domestic violence (Office of the Children’s Ombudsman);
On 1 March 2024, conducted a master class for the MNU Ombudsmen Club on legislative drafting;
On 17 April 2024, gave a presentation to MNU staff explaining and discussing the Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Child Safety;
On 14 June 2024, held an awareness-raising seminar on domestic violence for crisis centres and NGOs as part of MNU’s cooperation with the Likeminded Club (Embassy of the Netherlands in Kazakhstan);
On 29 June 2024, conducted a master class on the basics of lawmaking for participants of the MIND Accelerator;
On 9 August 2024, gave a presentation at a training session for regional representatives of the Commissioner for Human Rights of Kazakhstan on “Methods of Human Rights Advocacy”;
On 7–8 August 2024, participated in the Country Mechanism meeting of the International Organization for Migration and delivered a talk on “Legal Regulation of Private Employment Agencies”;
On 26 June 2024, spoke at a seminar at the National Centre for Biotechnology on “New Developments in the Law on Science”;
On 25 June 2024, participated in a session of the Council on Inclusive Policy under the Senate of the Parliament on “Challenges to Access to Justice for Persons with Disabilities”;
On 24 June 2024, attended the final session of the Public Chamber under the Mazhilis of the Parliament, and received a letter of appreciation from the Chairperson of the Mazhilis for his active contribution to legislative work;
On 20–21 June 2024, took part in a monitoring visit of the National Commission on Women’s Affairs and Family and Demographic Policy under the President to Stepnogorsk and Kokshetau;
On 13 June 2024, participated in an interview at the UN Representation in Kazakhstan on the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF);
On 13 June 2024, took part in an interview with the People’s Party of Kazakhstan on the issue of ageism;
On 8 June 2024, was interviewed by Dosym Satpayev on platform employment issues;
On 31 May 2024, participated in a meeting of young scientists at the National Academy of Sciences in Almaty;
On 29 May 2024, conducted a performance workshop on “Challenges of Applying Two Labour Law Systems in Kazakhstan: The Experience of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC)”;
On 28 May 2024, spoke to journalists as part of a media training on “Legal Protection of Journalists and Bloggers”;
On 23 May 2024, spoke at the HR Capital Days Forum on “Legal Risk Management in the HR Field”;
On 23 May 2024, gave an online presentation at the European-Asian Legal Congress on “Challenges of Applying Two Labour Law Systems in Kazakhstan: The Experience of the AIFC”;
On 20 May 2024, participated in a meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Civil Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya, and spoke on the Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Child Safety;
On 18 May 2024, participated in an expert discussion at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan on gender equality and combating violence;
On 15 May 2024, visited flood-affected areas in Akmola Region and held meetings with the local population;
On 4 May 2024, participated in a Ministry of Health meeting on the professional liability of medical workers, presenting proposals to address shortcomings in the adopted law;
On 2 May 2024, took part in a meeting at the Ministry of Culture and Information on implementing gender expertise in legislation, and presented the Methodology for Gender Expertise;
On 2 May 2024, took part in an expert discussion on AIFC law and delivered a presentation on “Labour Law in Kazakhstan and the AIFC: Correlation and Implementation Challenges”;
On 24 April 2024, took part in the presentation of a monograph on adaptive economics (Astana International University), delivering a report on social partnership in the labour sphere;
On 11 April 2024, delivered a presentation at the International Scientific Forum “Children in Science” on “The Role of Youth in Science”;
On 15 March 2024, participated in a meeting of the Coordinating Council of the “Parasat” Business Alliance and gave a presentation on social partnership;
On 13 March 2024, participated in a meeting of the Presidium of the Council of Young Scientists and delivered a presentation on “Legal Status and Protection of Young Scientists in Kazakhstan”;
On 12 March 2024, participated in a meeting with the Minister of Labour and Social Protection on the new Social Code;
On 22 February 2024, took part in the first session of the Council of Young Scientists of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where he was introduced as the Ombudsman for Young Scientists and presented proposals for the draft law on science and technological policy;
On 16 February 2024, delivered a presentation on collective labour law reform to the Senate leadership during the first meeting of the Senate Project Office and Maqsut Narikbayev University;
On 16 February 2024, delivered a presentation at a meeting of the Public Chamber under the Mazhilis of the Parliament on improving the draft law on science and technological policy;
On 13 February 2024, gave a speech at a meeting of the Young Experts Club under the Senate with the participation of the Chairperson of the Senate, where he commented and made proposals on the draft National Development Plan until 2029;
On 13 February 2024, presented the draft law on collective labour law reform to social partners in the Republic;
On 12 February 2024, participated in a meeting of the Consortium of Scientific Organisations on family-demographic and gender policy issues at the Ministry of Culture and Information;
On 30 January 2024, participated in a live broadcast on the transformation of the trade union movement (on the “Astana Online” expert platform channel);
On 26 January 2024, delivered a presentation at a meeting of the Public Chamber under the Mazhilis of the Parliament on combating corruption (law on conflicts of interest, academic integrity, etc.);
On 4 October 2024, conducted a performance workshop for university staff titled “Challenges of Legal Regulation of Private Employment Agencies in Kazakhstan in the Context of International Standards”;
From 10 to 24 October 2024, spoke at events of the UN General Assembly in New York and gave a lecture at Washington University in St. Louis;
On 8 November 2024, gave a presentation at the AlmaU conference on domestic violence issues;
On 21–22 November 2024, took part in the First Congress of Young Scientists of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where he moderated and was keynote speaker of a roundtable on “The Legal Status of Scientists and Legal Support for Research Activities: Problems and Prospects”;
On 6 December 2024, spoke at the IV Forum of the Young Researchers Alliance (YRA) on “Strengthening the Legal Status of Scientists,” attended by the Chairperson of the Senate and the Minister of Science and Higher Education;
On 12 December 2024, gave a presentation at the National Expert Platform “KISI GPS: Gylym. Pikir. Sayasat” on “The Role of Analytical Centres in Shaping the National Agenda”;
On 18 December 2024, delivered a presentation at the conference organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan “Next Steps for Professional Social Work in Achieving the SDGs in the Context of Kazakhstan,” where he moderated the session “The Contribution of Professional Social Work to the Protection of Social, Economic, and Cultural Human Rights in Kazakhstan” and presented a report on the “Law on Social Work” as a tool for human rights protection;
Frequently appeared in the media opposing unconstitutional initiatives by the Ministry of Labour to stop pension payments from the state budget to working pensioners.
Gave an interview to the main media outlet in Central Asia, WE Project, on ongoing research and the development of the scientific field in Kazakhstan.
Published a series of articles on kz titled “Reforming the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Part 1. Analysis of the 1998–2017 Constitutional Reforms” (link) and “Reforming the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Part 2. Analysis of the 2022 Constitutional Reform” (link).
Published an article “Realisation of Citizens’ Constitutional Right to Participate in the Governance of State Affairs” on kz: link
Published an article “Reforming the Legislative Regulation of Private Employment Agencies in the Field of Labour Intermediation in Kazakhstan” in Vestnik of Karaganda University, No. 3(115), 2024.

Activities in 2023
In the 1st semester of the 2023–2024 academic year, the Labour Law Research School at MNU organised two round tables on the most pressing issues in labour law: on 7 November 2023 on occupational safety and social protection of miners, and on 8 December 2023 on collective labour disputes and strikes.
On 13 May 2023, representatives of the Labour Law Research School at Maqsut Narikbayev University — Nikita Lyutov, Muslim Khasenov, and Ilona Voitkovskaya — took part in the International Round Table “Labour and Law in the Digital Age”, organised by Samarkand State University. Scholars from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Italy, France, Hungary, and Belarus participated in the event.

Muslim Khassenov presented on the protection of workers’ rights in the context of the expansion of new forms of employment (Protection of workers in the context of extension of new employment forms). He highlighted Kazakhstan’s experience (both positive and negative) in regulating remote work and the 2023 legislative developments (flexible forms of employment and work modes), as well as high-profile amendments related to platform work.

He stressed that the regulation of platform-based employment must take into account two key factors influencing the classification of the relationship as employment (which the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection refuses to acknowledge):

the existence of control (including algorithmic) and subordination;
economic dependency — specifically, who sets the price for services (an independent contractor or the platform).
Based on the platform’s business model, one can determine the nature of the relationship between the agent (platform worker) and the platform (operator). Unfortunately, the provisions of Kazakhstan’s Social Code dated 20 April 2023 directly classify these relationships as civil-law in nature, failing to account for labour market realities and various existing arrangements.
Regardless of the formal legal status prescribed by national legislation, the state must ensure a minimum level of protection for working individuals. Manipulation of the term “independent contractors” should not deprive workers of their basic social rights. These guarantees should include a minimum wage, social protection, and occupational safety and health.
Doctor of Law, Professor, and Associate Professor at MNU, Nikita Lyutov delivered a presentation titled “Digital technologies and labour rights: friends or foes?”
Colleagues from Italy shared their perspectives on the development of labour law in the context of digitalisation:
Emanuele Menegatti (Professor at the University of Bologna) spoke about digital resilience and the concept of universal basic income;
Iacopo Senatori (Professor at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia) presented on the challenges and prospects of remote work;
Riccardo Salomone (Professor at the University of Trento) addressed the benefits of digital transformation for the labour market;
Marco Tufo (Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Siena) devoted his talk to the collective dimension of platform work.
Hungarian colleague Dr. Gábor Mélypataki (Professor at the University of Miskolc) presented on “Labour Law 4.0. Dream or reality?”
French colleague Dr. Claire Marzo (Professor at the Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée) focused her speech on platform-based employment.

In the second half of 2023, Project-Based Learning (PBL) was successfully piloted with undergraduate students, 14 of whom prepared research papers on labour law. These works were successfully presented on 25 December 2023 at the MNU Law School Showcase 2023:

“Problems of State Control over Compliance with Labour Legislation in the Republic of Kazakhstan” (Aytkaly Riza and Zharmukhamedov Askhat) – awarded 2nd place;
“Legal Regulation of Fixed-Term Employment Contracts and Their Termination in the Republic of Kazakhstan” (Burbakh Evelina and Lekerova Adina);
“Protection of Intellectual and Informational Rights of the Employee” (Ablai Akbota, Kuandyk Marzhan);
“Problems of Wage Regulation in the Republic of Kazakhstan” (Aitmagambetova Saltanat, Askar Ainur);
“Legal Regulation of Work Outside the Employer’s Premises” (Kazbekov Beksultan);
“Problems of Labour Migration Regulation” (Nalihan Balnur) – recognised as the best paper and awarded 1st place;
“Features of Material Liability of the Employee in the Republic of Kazakhstan” (Kairbek Magzhan, Sagyndyk Almaz);
“Legal Regulation of Platform-Based Employment” (Mutigullina Dilyara, Kopzhasar Amina).

M. Khassenov:

On 20 December 2023, delivered a presentation at the opening of the Project Office of the Senate and Maqsut Narikbayev University;
On 12 December 2023, appeared live on the “Khabar” TV channel in the programme Itogi (Outcomes). Topic: the Presidential Decree dated 8 December “On the Action Plan on Human Rights and the Rule of Law”;
On 12 December 2023, participated in a roundtable on the topic “Promoting Compliance with International Labour Standards to Ensure Safe and Healthy Working Conditions in the Coal Industry of Kazakhstan”. The event was organised by the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan (FTUK) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO);
On 8 December 2022, presented a paper at the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Implementation of International Legal Norms Ensuring Human Rights into National Legislation”. The event was organised by the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Human Rights Commission under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
On 4 December 2023, spoke at the closing conference of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the Central Asian Women Leaders’ Dialogue, attended by the heads of parliaments from five countries. The theme of the conference was “Countering Gender-Based Violence in the Region: In Search of Effective and Sustainable Joint Solutions”;
On 28 November 2023, participated in a meeting of the Public Council under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan as part of the public hearings “Kazakhstan Without Violence”, where the first National Report on Countering Domestic Violence in Kazakhstan was presented;
On 27 November 2023, conducted a performance workshop for the University staff on the topic “Domestic Violence in Kazakhstan: Legal Analysis and Prospective Solutions”;
On 22 November 2023, took part in an online discussion hosted by the MediaNet International Centre for Journalism on the topic “Combating Violence Against Women in Kazakhstan: A Plan of Action”;
On 9 November 2023, spoke at a roundtable “The Culture of Protecting Labour Rights in Kazakhstan”, which included a presentation of the research findings “The Role and Effectiveness of Trade Unions in Protecting Workers’ Rights Through the Lens of Public Perception”;
On 6 November 2023, gave an interview to political analyst Gaziz Abishev on labour and trade union rights as well as on the issue of the criminalisation of domestic violence;
On 20 October 2023, spoke at an international conference on improving working conditions in the healthcare sector in Almaty. The conference was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Kazakh Sectoral Trade Union of Healthcare Workers TradeUnion Aqniet and held under the auspices of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), with the participation of trade union leaders from 12 countries;
On 18 October 2023, delivered a presentation at the regional conference of the UN “Ray of Light” programme, attended by representatives of five Central Asian countries, on the topic of the legal grounds for the criminalisation of domestic violence in Kazakhstan;
On 6 October 2023, held a meeting with the faculty and students of the Law Faculty of E.A. Buketov Karaganda University, presenting the research schools and textbooks of Maqsut Narikbayev University;
On 29 September 2023, spoke at a session of the Public Chamber of the Mazhilis on child safety and protection rights, presenting proposals related to suicide prevention;
On 27 September 2023, took part in a roundtable on the discussion of recommendations following the third cycle of the UN Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights. The event was organised by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan in collaboration with UN agencies;
On 22 September 2023, participated in an event of the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan with leaders and activists from the oil and gas sector, presenting on the new provisions of the Labour and Social Codes and sharing noteworthy examples of judicial practice on labour disputes.
Interview with the European publication Euractiv, resulting in the article titled “Kazakhstan’s domestic violence legislation, a growing social policy partnership with Europe” (15 June 2024)
Interview with the international outlet Al Jazeera, which resulted in a video feature on the law regarding the protection of women’s rights and children’s safety, featuring his commentary (July 2024)
Interview with political analyst Dosym Satpayev on the topic of the platform economy
Interview for Tengrinews on the issue of ageism
Series of publications in Spik.kz:
A Country of Domestic Tyrants: How to Break the Vicious Circle? (12 March 2024)
In Six Years, 1,238 Kazakhstanis Have Died from Domestic Violence! (16 April 2024)
The President’s Address: What We Will Hear and What We Want to Hear? Part II (6 August 2024)
Interview for the publication “Chelovek i Zakon”: Kazakhstan Without Violence (12 April 2024)
Interview for Baige News: Ban on Alcohol and Weapons: How Aggressors Will Be Restricted in Kazakhstan (15 April 2024)
Interview for the leading Central Asian media Weproject: An Experienced Scholar from Kazakhstan on the Challenges of Scientific Development and How to Overcome Them
Interview for Vlast.kz on the results of 2023 in the socio-economic sphere and the outlook for 2024
Interview with political analyst Gaziz Abishev on labour and trade union rights, as well as on the criminalisation of domestic violence
Participation in the talk show on the “Zhibek Zholy” TV channel on the topic “Industrial Safety and Occupational Health in Industry” following the tragedy at the Kostenko mine
Interview for the TALAP.Talks programme regarding the tragedy at the mine in Karaganda Region: “Kazakhstan’s Miners: No Status, No Protection”
Participation in the public campaign “Men Against Violence” with an appeal for the criminalisation of domestic violence

Events of 2022:

On 9 June 2022, N. Lyutov spoke at the 15th session of the Euro-Asian Legal Congress on “The Internationalisation of Legal Science and Education” (Yekaterinburg, Russia) with a presentation titled “The Internationalisation of Labour Law Amid Global Challenges”.
M. Khassenov delivered a presentation on “Modern Approaches to Regulating the Phenomenon of Platform Employment”.
On 23 September 2022, M. Khassenov spoke at the International Scientific and Practical Conference (within the framework of the annual Civil Law Readings) “Application and Interpretation of Law and Contracts” with a presentation on “Distinction Between Employment and Civil Law Contracts in the Republic of Kazakhstan: Theoretical and Law Enforcement Issues”, and submitted a paper for the conference proceedings.
From 29 September to 1 October 2022, M. Khassenov participated in the international conference “Universities at the Crossroads: Academic Freedom in a Changing World” in Tbilisi (Georgia), presenting on the topic “Academic Freedom and Academic Autonomy in Kazakhstan”.
On 26 October 2022, N. Lyutov delivered a guest lecture together with Prof. B. ter Haar (Netherlands) on “Collective Bargaining in Russia and the Netherlands” at North-West University (South Africa).
On 28 October 2022, I.V. Voitkovskaya conducted a guest seminar with doctoral students of the University of Pretoria (South Africa) on “Sexual Harassment at the Workplace in Russia and Kazakhstan”.
On 1 November 2022, N. Lyutov spoke at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the topic “Prospects for Kazakhstan’s Ratification of the ILO Convention on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work”, within the framework of a technical cooperation project between the ILO and Kazakhstan.
On 18 November 2022, N. Lyutov delivered a presentation on “Platform Employment: The Draft New EU Directive and the Regulations of Russia and Kazakhstan” at the International Scientific and Practical Conference “New Horizons of Labour Law (dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Professor A.K. Bezina)”, organised by Kazan Federal University (Russia).
On the same day, M. Khassenov gave a talk at the international scientific conference “Family-Demographic and Gender Policy at a New Stage of Kazakhstan’s Development”, organised by the National Commission on Women’s Affairs and Family and Demographic Policy under the President of Kazakhstan, on the topic “Analysis of International and Kazakhstani Legislation on Combating Domestic Violence: Law Enforcement Practice and Recommendations for Improvement”.
On 25 November 2022, during the Regional Dialogue in Central Asia: “Combating Violence: Women and Girls at Risk. Addressing Root Causes, Providing Assistance, and Enhancing Access to Justice”, organised by the Mazhilis of the Republic of Kazakhstan, OSCE, and UN Women,
M. Khassenov presented on “The Problem of Domestic Violence in the Context of Human Rights”,
and N. Lyutov spoke on “ILO Convention No. 190: Prospects for Ratification by Kazakhstan”.
On 28 November 2022, M. Khassenov spoke at an expert online discussion “The Economic Consequences of Gender-Based Violence and Discrimination in Kazakhstan”, organised by the International Centre for Journalism MediaNet, with a presentation titled “Combating Domestic Violence in Kazakhstan: Issues of Legal Protection”.
On 10 December 2022, M. Khassenov participated in the first national meeting of the International Organization for Migration as part of the 4-year project “Program for Promoting Regulated Labour Migration in Central Asia”, having been included in the coordination mechanism representing the academic community upon recommendation by the Ombudsperson for Human Rights of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
On 19 December 2022, M. Khassenov participated in the scientific and practical conference “The Introduction of the Constitutional Court in Kazakhstan — A Significant Step Towards Building a Fair and Law-Based State”, organised by the Academy of Advocacy, with a presentation titled “Decisions of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan: Legal Nature, Legal Force, and Prospects for Application”.
On 27 January 2023, M. Khassenov participated in the Social Partnership Forum “A New Social Contract: Fair Labour Relations”, organised by the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and gave a presentation titled “Problems in the Implementation of Social Partnership in Kazakhstan”.
On 7 February 2023, M. Khassenov took part in a live broadcast of the programme “Priorities” from the studio of the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan, in the format of an interview where he discussed the current state and prospects of social partnership and overall socio-labour relations in Kazakhstan.
On 3 March 2023, M. Khassenov participated in the international scientific and practical conference “Anti-Ageing – A New Direction in the Development of Law”, held at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty.

Student Clubs

As part of the Research School, two academic student clubs are operating:

Student Club of Kazakhstani Labour Law
Student Club of International and Comparative Labour Law

Contact Information:
010000, Astana, Korgalzhyn Highway, Office 223

An Instagram page has been created and is regularly updated.

The Research School also runs its own YouTube channel, where video lectures and podcasts by our professors, researchers, and experts are published.

Since 2023, the Facebook page of the Research School has also been regularly updated.