New Social Package For Oralmandar
NEW SOCIAL PACKAGE FOR ORALMANDAR There is a new social benefits package for ethnic repatriates “Oralmandar” (word ‘oralman’ is translation of word “repatriate” into Kazakh and –dar is the plural suffix) waiting for approval in the lower chamber of Parliament Majilis. The new package includes a number of benefits to encourage oralmandar to return their historical homeland. The aim of the new proposed social package is to stimulate the return of diaspora Kazakhs to Kazakhstan.
This social package is a response of government to a significant decrease in the number of arriving oralmandar in the last two years. Comparing the year 2013 and 2014 shows, that number of oralmandar who arrived in Kazakhstan reduced from 33.952 to 8.247 (meaning nearly 3 times reduction). Reasons for this reduction are new demands imposed on oralmandar after 2013, which created administrative barriers for oralmandar to arrive.
Previously oralmandar should have to wait for 4 years to receive citizenship. The government made changes in this procedure and reduced the process of getting the citizenship from 4 to 1 year. The provided changes in citizenship issue definitely will attract more repatriates to return to Kazakhstan, because the status of oralman is a temporary status until repatriate receives his or her citizenship. The term oralman is a legal term to identify repatriates in official documents in order to provide them certain benefits and assistance. Oralmandar could enjoy all the social benefits provided by the law “On Migration”. They are eligible to apply and receive pensions, social aid and housing program of government adding to that there is a quota for their children in Kazakhstani universities and schools.
It is quite ordinary thing that repatriates face a number of difficulties after their arrival to Kazakhstan. Housing and employment are two emerging problem, which requires immediate solution. That is why the new social package, which would be proposed under the new law draft “Amendments and additions to certain legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on migration and employment”, will include compensation for the travel expenses and providing rental housing with the right of privatization after 5 years from the date of arrival. Previously the government allowed them to settle in 7 regions including the north, east and west regions.
Difference of this social package is that now oralmandar will be allowed to settle in any 14 regions of Kazakhstan including cities of Almaty and Astana. Draft includes a rule for housing: In the case of moving from the region before 5-year limit, oralmandar has to return the received social package to government immediately or has to refuse the citizenship of Kazakhstan.
The government will provide the social package only to those who agree to settle in particular regions. Attracting oralmandar to settle in designated locations, the Kazakh government wants to solve such internal problems as labor shortage and depopulation in certain regions. It means that if oralmandar decide to settle in areas with a labor surplus like Almaty city, they will not be able to receive this social package. Another aim of these social packages is to redirect the flow of incoming repatriates from southern regions towards northern regions, because of great concentration (59.5 %) of oralmandar in three southern regions of the country, namely, South Kazakhstan, Mangistau and Jambyl. Therefore, both parties could benefit from the new social packages oralmandar could get a support to solve their economic problems and the government could get opportunity to fulfill it migration plans.
In conclusion, it should be noted, that the new social package is a part of a continuing assistance of government of Kazakhstan regarding settlement problem of oralmandar. Obviously, a significant number of oralmandar could benefit from these social packages if they are having problems with finding a job and trying to solve their housing problem for a long period.
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Prepared by Lidiya Parkhomchik, Hayal Ayca Simsek, Rassul Arin, Cengizhan Canaltay
