This article presents a comprehensive analysis and strategic framework for enhancing social welfare in Kazakhstan through the adoption of international social security standards. This article aims to formulate scientific and practical recommendations for enhancing the legal framework governing Kazakhstan’s social security system. It posits that integrating international social protection standards is pivotal for refining national legislation and charting future developmental courses. Employing a novel methodology, this study analyzes key documents from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). It also examines efforts to assimilate these international norms into Kazakhstan’s social security laws. The investigation reveals a stagnation in the evolution of the nation’s social sector, marked by a dearth of innovative ideas and initiatives to elevate the subpar social security standards. The adoption of international social standards emerges as a catalyst for rejuvenating the national social sphere, aiming to elevate the Kazakhstani social protection system to meet global benchmarks. This research outlines the pathways for Kazakhstan’s ratification of and accession to key social protection instruments and offers expert recommendations to support this endeavor. The conclusions and recommendations developed are poised for application in legislative reforms, aiming to amend and enhance existing laws to foster a more robust and inclusive social security framework. The findings suggest that the adoption of international social security standards not only contributes to the improvement of individual lives but also fosters social cohesion and economic stability. The article concludes with tailored recommendations for Kazakhstan, highlighting the role of stakeholder engagement, phased implementation, and continuous evaluation in the successful integration of global social security norms. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on social security reform, offering a valuable perspective for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners involved in social welfare enhancement efforts in Kazakhstan and similar contexts.

Akshataeva, Z., Baizhanova, K., Beisebaeva, S., et al. (2016). The Framework of Social Security System Public Management in Kazakhstan. International Journal of Environmental & Science Education, 11(18).

Bantekas, I., & Oette, L. (2016). International Human Rights Law and Practice. Cambridge University Press.

Becker, C., Marchenko, G., Khakimzhanov, S., et al. (2009). Social security reform in transition economies: Lessons from Kazakhstan. Springer.

Berstembayeva, R., Niyazbekova, S. U., & Kaldenova, G. S. (2021). Evaluation of poverty and measures to reduce it. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, 155, 99–106.

Bidaishiyeva, A., Nadirova, K. K., Kuldinova, S., et al. (2018). Improving quality of legal regulation for social rights of family and child within new social course in the Republic of Kazakhstan. J. Legal Ethical & Regul., 21, 1.

Buribayev, Y. A., & Khamzina, Z. A. (2023). The Constitutional Court’s interpretation of the Social Code’s conformity with the Constitution of Kazakhstan: expectations vs reality. Available online: https://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=39208802 (accessed on 18 May 2023).

Buribayev, Y. A., Khamzin, A. S., Oryntaev, Z. K., et al. (2020). Social security and gender equality in Kazakhstan: Legislative gaps and opportunities. Social security and gender equality in Kazakhstan: legislative gaps and opportunities, 103–124. https://doi.org/10.3280/riss2020-002007

Buribayev, Y. A., Uteyev, B., Nessipbekov, Y., et al. (2016). Pension reform in the republic of Kazakhstan: Main directions, conditions for implementation and development prospects. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 11(18), 11611–11619.

Butler, W. E., Entin, M. L., Entina, E. G., et al. (2020). Greater Eurasia: In Search of a Legal Order. Polis. Political Studies, 4(4), 9–23.

Chugunov, I., Makohon, V., Kaneva, T., et al. (2022). Influence of financial support of human capital development on economic growth. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 20(2), 269–280.

Conforti, B. (1993). International law and the role of domestic legal systems. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.

D’Amato, A. (1995). Human rights as part of customary international law: A plea for change of paradigms. Ga. J. Int’l & Comp. L., 25, 47.

Guimaraes, D. F. (2021). The Interaction between National and International Constitutional Spaces and Their Impacts on the System of Sources of Law: The Learning from the Cooperative Protection of Human Rights and the Case of European Integration. Braz. J. Int’l L., 18, 173.

Hannum, H. (1995). The status of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in national and international law. Ga. J. Int’l & Comp. L., 25, 287.

Hathaway, O. A. (2002). Do Human Rights Treaties Make a Difference? The Yale Law Journal, 111(8), 1935–2042. https://doi.org/10.2307/797642

Howse, R., & Teitel, R. (2010). Beyond compliance: Rethinking why international law really matters. Global Policy, 1(2), 127–136. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-5899.2010.00035.x

Ibraev, Z. G., Yerkebaeva, N. A., Mirzakulova, B. A., et al. (2017). Social rights, family and child guarantees in the context of the implementation of a new social course in the Republic of Kazakhstan. J. Legal Ethical & Regul. Isses, 20, 1.

Karayev, A. A., Mukhtarova, A., Tileubergenov, Y. M., et al. (2016). Public administration of social security in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Journal of Advanced Research in Law and Economics, 7(5(19)), 1051–1057.

Khamzin, A. S., Khamzina, Z. A., Oryntayev, Z. K., et al. (2016). Constitutional Law Fundamentals of the State Administration of the Social Sphere in the Republic of Kazakhstan. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 11(12), 5237–5250.

Khamzina, Z. A., & Buribayev, Y. A., (2022). The draft Social Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan is not in line with the Constitution and requires further refinement. Available online: https://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=35484911 (accessed on 18 May 2023).

Kirby, J. M. (2005). International Law—The Impact on National Constitutions. In Proceedings of the ASIL Annual Meeting. Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–21.

Kjeldgaard-Pedersen, A. (2019). Global Constitutionalism and the International Legal Personality of the Individual. Netherlands International Law Review, 66, 271–286. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40802-019-00140-8

Koishibayev, M. M., Nechayeva, Y. L., & Kapitsyn, V. M. (2020). National plans to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities in Kazakhstan amendments to the legislation. Disability & Society, 35(8), 1355–1359. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2019.1698153

Leary, V. A. (1982). International labour conventions and national law: the effectiveness of the automatic incorporation of treaties in national legal systems. BRILL.

Lyutov, N. (2014). The ilo system of international labour standards and monitoring procedures: Too complicated to be effective? Zbornik-Pravnog Fakulteta u Zagrebu, 64(2), 255–276.

Lyutov, N. (2022). Russian labor legislation and international labor standards: compliance and prospects for improvement. Scientific and practical guide. Litres.

Madiyarova, A. S., Baisalova, G. T., Baitanova, A., et al. (2017). Social Security for Family and Child in Kazakhstan: Theory and Practice. J. Legal Ethical & Regul. Isses, 20, 1.

Maltseva, E. (2016). Framing a welfare reform: the social benefits reform in Russia and Kazakhstan. Canadian Slavonic Papers, 58(3), 229–256.

Mukhamadiyeva, G. N., Mukaldyeva, G., Karasheva, Z. T., et al. (2017). Modernization of social security system legal regulation in Kazakhstan: Experience and standards of the OECD members implementation. J. Advanced Res. L. & Econ., 8, 2498.

Naranjo, N. R. (2023). Social Work and Sustainable Development Goals: A Human Rights Common Agenda. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-023-00275-y

O’Brien, C., & Pellerano, L. (2015). Determinants of take-up of welfare programmes: evidence from a conditional cash transfer in Kazakhstan. Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 23(2), 89–104. https://doi.org/10.1332/175982715x14355720956909

Paulus, A. L. (2009). The international legal system as a constitution. Ruling the World, (175), 69. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511627088.004

Rakhimova, G. N., Kussainov, S., Zhanguttin, B. O., et al. (2018). The Welfare State in Kazakhstan: Development Based on International Experience and International Standards. J. Advanced Res. L. & Econ., 9, 2108.

Rakymzhanova, S., Issakhova, P., & Karshalova, A. (2018). Development of the social protection funding mechanisms in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Revista Espacios, 39(27).

Raustiala, K. (2000). Compliance & (and) effectiveness in international regulatory cooperation. Case W. Res. J. Int’l L., 32, 387.

Ryspekova, M. O., & Beissekeyeva, A. K. (2013). Analysis and ways of state regulation of social security system in the Republic of Kazakhstan under economy modernization. Актуальні проблеми економіки, 148(10), 456–463.

Seitenova, A. G. S., & Becker, C. M. (2004). Kazakhstan’s pension system: Pressures for change and dramatic reforms. Hitotsubashi Journal of Economics, 151–187.

Sidorenko, A. V., Eshmanova, A. K., & Abikulova, A. K. (2017). Population aging in Kazakhstan. 1. Problems and Opportunities. Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii, 30(4), 505–515.

Sidorenko, A. V., Eshmanova, A. K., & Abikulova, A. K. (2018). Aging of the population in Kazakhstan. 1. Problems and opportunities. Advances in Gerontology, 8, 12–21. https://doi.org/10.1134/s2079057018010113

Simmons, B. A. (1998). Compliance with international agreements. Annual review of political science, 1(1), 75–93. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.polisci.1.1.75

Simmons, B. A. (2009). Mobilizing for human rights: international law in domestic politics. Cambridge University Press.

Teye, A. T. (2023). An International Perspective on the Human Rights of Women. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 1–9.

Turebekov, B. Z., & Nurkatova, L. T. (2018). Integrated social services for families with elderly people in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Advances in Gerontology = Uspekhi Gerontologii, 31(2), 293–299.

Urueña, R. (2017). International Law as expert knowledge: Exploring the changing role of international lawyers in national contexts. International law as a profession, 389–410.

Verdier, P. H., & Versteeg, M. (2015). International law in national legal systems: An empirical investigation. American Journal of International Law, 109(3), 514–533. https://doi.org/10.5305/amerjintelaw.109.3.0514