Yandex Responds to Parliamentary Proposal for Minimum Hourly Wage for Drivers

During the Kursiv Ecosystems Forum 2026 held in Almaty, Timur Shalekenov, Head of Yandex Qazaqstan, announced the company’s official stance regarding the proposal to introduce a minimum hourly wage for platform-based workers.

The initiative was previously put forward by Senate Deputy Bibigul Zheksenbay, who proposed implementing guaranteed hourly pay, paid annual leave, and sick leave for taxi drivers and couriers to protect their labor rights. Currently, more than 394,000 people in Kazakhstan earn a living through such digital platforms.

According to Timur Shalekenov, the nature of taxi services differs fundamentally from traditional office employment as it is directly driven by market supply and demand. He highlighted several risks associated with introducing a fixed hourly wage:

• Performance-Based Earnings: Income in the taxi industry is strictly dependent on the number of completed orders. During peak times (e.g., Friday evenings), drivers earn significantly more due to high-demand multipliers, whereas earnings naturally decrease during periods of low demand.

• Market Impact: Artificially setting a minimum wage could lead to a sharp increase in service costs or industry stagnation. These additional expenses would ultimately place a financial burden on the passengers.

• Dynamic Pricing Mechanism: The Head of Yandex Qazaqstan clarified that price fluctuations are not designed for corporate profit but serve as a mechanism to incentivize more drivers to enter the line when demand is high.

Furthermore, Yandex Qazaqstan confirmed that the company is currently navigating the transition to the new Tax Code and addressing regulations surrounding platform employment. The company remains committed to maintaining a balance between the interests of drivers and consumers while adhering to market principles.