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Paper abstract:

In the past decade, and particularly since the onset of the global COVID pandemic, care has emerged as an important economic and policy issue. In Kazakhstan and Central Asia, this is an urgent, and at the same time, unmentionable/underestimated problem, the solution of which could contribute to the economic empowerment of women, improve the quality of life of the entire population and to economic growth. In Kazakhstan, long maternity leaves with social support for mothers and a well-developed wide network of preschool organizations to support the full employment policy were part of the Soviet heritage. The childcare system has undergone significant changes in the post-Soviet period. Similarities remain, including relatively long paid time off for maternity leave and family care, and a lack of institution care for children under 3, but new gaps have emerged in the context of the market economy and the shrinking role of government. The gaps emerge as significant factors as the government of Kazakhstan seeks to increase both fertility and women’s labor force contributions, including under the 2016 Concept of Family and Gender Policy of RK.

The paper explores the care of children under 3 years of age as the least-developed and least-studied, but very important area in the national care system. A pragmatic research paradigm was utilized to survey around 600 respondents rendering unpaid childcare services in the cities of Almaty, Astana, Karaganda and Pavlodar, as well as in rural areas of Almaty, Akmola, Karaganda, and Pavlodar oblasts. These were complemented with an analysis of the existing legislative norms and public childcare support. The study examines how care for the children under 3 is provided, how provision is affected by evolving state policy, household preferences related to this care, and implications for care givers. The study identifies care for children ages 18 months to 3 years as a key gap, which may leave mothers without access to decent work. A regression model examines factors associated with the probability that a woman caring for a child will go to work. The paper concludes with detailed recommendations in the examined preferences and needs, drawing on proposing actions for the government and developing indicators/programs for preschool enrollment and further care development.