UNDP experts assessed progress of Kazakhstan in implementation of UN Guidelines
As part of the global initiative of the United Nations Development Program in Kazakhstan, a National Basic Assessment (NBO) on business and human rights was conducted. Based on its results, it is planned to develop a National Action Plan aimed at strengthening mechanisms for protecting the rights of citizens (workers) and introducing the UN Guiding Principles in the Field of Business and Human Rights in Kazakhstan, El.kz reports citing the organization's press service.
To assess the situation, understand the needs, problems and opportunities of the impact of business on human rights, UNDP experts analyzed the current level of implementation of these UN principles in Kazakhstani companies. The study also identified the most common challenges faced by businesses and Kazakhstani enterprises in various sectors.
The study included methods such as desk analysis, interviews and focus groups with representatives of government agencies, business and civil society, as well as an online survey of 278 companies and monitoring of 60 company websites using the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark - Core methodology.
The respondents were employees of enterprises doing business in the sectors of the extractive industry, construction, production and processing of agricultural products, light industry, services and trade (including the banking sector), transport and logistics, energy, education, healthcare, etc. A significant part of the respondents were compliance officers (41.4%); lawyers and HR professionals (30.2%) and company executives (17.6%).
According to UNDP experts, companies with state and foreign participation, as well as those whose shares are listed on stock exchanges, have shown a great commitment to human rights. They have established policies, procedures and mechanisms to respond to possible violations.
Manufacturing companies and enterprises operating in sectors such as extractive and agricultural industries, as well as the processing industry, have higher obligations in the context of human rights protection. And although they focus mainly on protecting the rights of workers, companies have appropriate procedures, mechanisms for dealing with complaints and applying measures to restore violated rights.
Most companies use common procedures to identify, identify, and assess the human rights impact of a company's activities. Human rights violations are generally ranked as medium to low risk and likely to occur, as evidenced by risk management reports and analyses.
The study showed that most often in Kazakh companies there are issues related to labor relations, which is 40% of cases. This is followed by issues related to corporate governance systems, such as inefficient resource management, lack of transparency and accountability, which accounts for 35% of cases.
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