Minimum Wage and MCI for 2027: New Indicators - FCHAIN

Minimum Wage and MCI for 2027: New Indicators

Kazakhstan has published the draft national budget for 2027–2029, which provides for new values of key socioeconomic indicators. According to the draft, the minimum wage in 2027 is planned to remain at KZT 85,000, while the Monthly Calculation Index (MCI) is proposed to increase to KZT 4,693. The proposed indicators are planned to take effect from January 1, 2027. The draft was open for public discussion until September 5, 2026, so these figures should be regarded as values provided for in the draft. For comparison, in 2026 the minimum wage is KZT 85,000, while the MCI is KZT 4,325. Therefore, if the MCI provided for in the draft is approved, it will increase by KZT 368 compared with 2026. The MCI is used to calculate benefits and other social payments, as well as fines, taxes, and other payments in cases provided for by law. In addition to the minimum wage and MCI, budget legislation establishes such social indicators as the minimum state basic pension payment, the minimum pension, and the subsistence minimum. In 2026, these indicators amount to KZT 35,596, KZT 69,049, and KZT 50,851, respectively.

 

Minimum Wage in 2027

According to the draft, the minimum wage is proposed to remain at KZT 85,000. The same amount was established for 2025 and 2026. Therefore, if the draft is adopted, the minimum wage will remain unchanged. The minimum wage determines the minimum monthly wage of an employee who has fully worked the established working time and fulfilled their employment duties. Under the Labour Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the salary of such an employee may not be lower than the minimum wage established for the relevant financial year. The minimum monthly wage is established annually by the law on the national budget. The minimum wage does not include additional payments and allowances, compensation and social payments, bonuses, or other incentive payments. If an employee has worked only part of the relevant period, the minimum wage is applied proportionally to the time worked. The minimum hourly wage is determined based on the minimum wage and the average monthly number of working hours according to the working time balance for the relevant calendar year.

 

MCI Is Proposed to Increase to KZT 4,693

Unlike the minimum wage, the Monthly Calculation Index is proposed to increase. In 2026, the MCI amounts to KZT 4,325, while the draft provides for an increase to KZT 4,693 in 2027. This represents an increase of KZT 368, or approximately 8.5%. In 2026, the MCI is officially used to calculate benefits and other social payments, as well as penalties, taxes, and other payments provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The MCI is established for the relevant financial year within the framework of budget legislation. Therefore, changes to this indicator affect statutory amounts and payments whose value is directly expressed in MCI. In particular, the MCI is used to calculate certain taxes. For example, for vehicle tax purposes, the indicator established by the law on the national budget and effective as of January 1 of the relevant financial year is applied. Therefore, if the MCI of KZT 4,693 is approved, the relevant amounts calculated using the MCI will be determined based on the new value. At the same time, the KZT 4,693 figure should be regarded as a value provided for in the draft until the national budget parameters for 2027 are finally approved.

 

Pensions and the Subsistence Minimum

The draft national budget also provides for changes to several other socioeconomic indicators. From January 1, 2027, it is proposed to establish:

1. the minimum state basic pension payment at KZT 38,622, compared with KZT 35,596 in 2026;
2. the minimum pension at KZT 74,919, compared with KZT 69,049 in 2026;
3. the subsistence minimum at KZT 55,173, compared with KZT 50,851 in 2026.

In addition, old-age and length-of-service pension payments are proposed to increase by 8.5% from January 1, 2027.

 

What Employers and Businesses Need to Consider

The proposed indicators for 2027 are relevant to companies’ payroll, accounting, and HR processes. While the minimum wage is proposed to remain at KZT 85,000, the increase in the MCI to KZT 4,693 will affect calculations in which this indicator is used. The MCI is used to calculate benefits and other social payments, as well as penalties, taxes, and other payments provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 2026, the MCI amounts to KZT 4,325, meaning that the value proposed for 2027 is KZT 368 higher than the current indicator. Employers should also take into account that the draft provides for the minimum wage to remain at its current level, while the MCI is proposed to increase. Accordingly, the changes will affect calculations, amounts, and thresholds that are determined by law using the MCI. When preparing payroll and accounting processes for 2027, it is important to distinguish between indicators linked to the minimum wage and those calculated based on the MCI. Since the values of KZT 85,000 and KZT 4,693 are provided for in the draft national budget, they remain proposed figures until the budget is finally adopted. Once the budget is approved, companies will need to apply the final indicators established for 2027 in the relevant calculations.

 

FChain Accounting and HR Services

Correct application of statutory indicators is important for accounting, payroll calculations, and HR processes. FChain provides professional accounting and HR support to businesses operating in Kazakhstan.

• Accounting and Tax Services — maintaining accounting and tax records and preparing reports as part of the company’s business activities.
• Payroll Services — calculating employee salaries and related mandatory payments.
• HR Services — support with HR administration and documentation related to employment relations.
• HR Audit — a comprehensive review of the company’s HR documentation and processes.
• Legal Support for Business — professional support with the company’s ongoing legal and corporate matters.

FChain’s comprehensive approach makes it possible to combine accounting, payroll, HR, and legal processes within a single professional team and provide systematic support for the company’s operations.

 

Currency Operations in Kazakhstan: September 2026 Changes

Prepared by: Anel Kosmaganbetova

Assistant to the Director

FChain Kazakhstan

 📩almaty@f-chain.com
WhatsApp: +7 771 214 1820