HAK-İŞ General Chairman Arslan Evaluated the Situation of Syrian Workforce at ILO Meeting

HAK-İŞ Confederation General Chairman Mahmut Arslan attended a critical meeting organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Turkey Office in Ankara on May 13, 2025. The meeting, held under the title "National Tripartite Consultation: Developments in Syria and Their Impacts on the Turkish Labor Market", addressed the reflections of developments in Syria on the labor market in Turkey from multiple perspectives.

Emphasis on Tripartite Mechanism:

As the name suggests, the meeting focused on the importance of cooperation among the key actors of the labor market: government, employers, and workers (through unions). In addition to General Chairman Arslan, the meeting was attended by ILO Turkey Director Yasser Ahmed Hassan, representatives of various civil society organizations, officials from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and experts from the International Labour Organization. This wide range of participation allowed the issue to be discussed from different dimensions.

HAK-İŞ's Syria Visit and Recommendations:

Speaking at the meeting, HAK-İŞ General Chairman Mahmut Arslan drew attention to the visit that the Confederation recently made to Syria, which he described as "historical". He stated that positive talks were held with the Syrian Ministry of Labour and the Syrian Trade Unions Federation during this visit.

Arslan made important evaluations regarding the situation of Syrians in the labor market in Turkey. He touched upon issues such as the necessity of encouraging registered employment, the importance of including Syrian workers in unionization, supporting voluntary return efforts, and establishing mechanisms that can effectively operate the social security system in working life.

Presentation in the Panel on Approaches of Social Partners:

Within the scope of the meeting, HAK-İŞ Confederation Assistant Expert Nesibe Koyuncu made a presentation in the panel titled "approaches of social partners". In this presentation, HAK-İŞ's perspective and solution proposals regarding the issue, and generally those of social partners, were shared.

The ILO National Tripartite Consultation meeting offered a critical platform for all stakeholders to jointly evaluate a sensitive and important issue such as the impacts of developments in Syria on the Turkish labor market. HAK-İŞ's direct contacts with Syria and the concrete proposals it put forward at the meeting once again demonstrated the confederation's active role in addressing the problems of refugee workers.