Kazakhstan's adoption of a single time zone disrupts residents' natural sleep-wake cycles
In Kazakhstan, the recent unification of time zones has sparked a wave of discontent, particularly among residents in the eastern regions. Previously divided into two time zones, the country's major cities, including Almaty and Astana, were six hours ahead of GMT/UTC, while the western energy-producing region was five hours ahead. However, a presidential decree issued in early 2024 established a single time zone across the country, resulting in a controversial change.
As winter sets in, residents in the east, notably in cities like Oskemen and Aktau, are expressing concerns about the timing of daylight. The new unified time zone has resulted in darkness descending earlier, around 3 PM in eastern Kazakhstan during winter. Conversely, during the summer, the complaint was that sunrise came too early, at around 3 AM.
Photos and videos on social media show the stark contrast between the two time zones—nightfall in Oskemen, the administrative center of the East Kazakhstan region, and bright sunlight in Aktau, a city on the Caspian Sea, occurring at the same time. Elderly residents and parents of afternoon schoolchildren are feeling the brunt of the change, with numerous complaints about health, safety, and decreased focus among students.
"They stole daylight from us," stated Almaty blogger Sergazy Toktarbek, expressing his disappointment and frustration. Another social media user, referring to officials, claimed they had committed a "crime against millions of Kazakhstanis."
Officials, including Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev, assert that the time change seeks to rectify an historical injustice. Kazakhstan, according to Shakkaliyev, once operated with the current, unified time zone of +5 UTC until the 1930s. During the Soviet period, Kazakhstan was forced to change its time zone eight times to align with the command-planned economy in Moscow, resulting in a disconnect between the natural cycle and established time zones.
Small business owners in the eastern sections of the country are experiencing negative economic consequences due to the time transition. Rustam Adamov, the head of the Restaurateurs' Association of the East Kazakhstan Region, reported a decrease in customers by about a third and an increase in costs due to the early onset of darkness, leading to higher electricity bills.
Struggling businesses and residents have presented two petitions to reverse the time change, which the government has so far rejected. Activists are rallying to turn back the clock to a two-time zone era, with some protesters individually adjusting their phones to reflect their preferred time.
The strategic alignment of time zones can be seen as a complex issue, as it affects natural daylight cycles, local economies, and personal lives. In countries such as China, where a single national time zone causes misalignment in outlying regions, similar struggles have been observed. The ongoing debate in Kazakhstan highlights the importance of considering the impacts on local communities when implementing such changes.
- The new unified time zone in Kazakhstan has been a subject of controversy for the small business owners in the eastern regions, as Rustam Adamov, the head of the Restaurateurs' Association of the East Kazakhstan Region, reported a decrease in customers and an increase in costs due to the early onset of darkness.
- In the health-and-wellness aspect, elderly residents and parents of afternoon schoolchildren in the eastern regions are feeling the brunt of the change, with numerous complaints about health, safety, and decreased focus among students due to the altered daylight cycles.
- The business of entertainment in Kazakhstan has also felt the effects of the time change, as the controversial move has sparked discontent amongst residents, particularly in the eastern regions, leading to widespread discussions and debates, including on social media platforms.
