Over 50 organizations supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) gathered at the ILO Project Marketplace in Ankara, Türkiye, showcasing innovative projects and exploring collaboration opportunities. Financed by the European Union Delegation to Türkiye, the event highlighted how partnerships can advance fundamental principles and rights at work in a rapidly changing labor landscape.
Organized under the EU-funded project “Strengthening Social Partners and Civil Society Capacities on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work”, the Marketplace provided a platform for social partners and civil society organizations to share experiences, present initiatives, and strengthen cooperation.
ILO Türkiye Director Yasser Hassan emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration: “This Marketplace fosters dialogue, long-term collaboration, and stronger alliances among employers, workers, and civil society, advancing fundamental principles and rights at work, which are essential for economic growth and social progress.”
Maria Luisa Wyganowski, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Türkiye, highlighted the EU’s commitment to supporting social dialogue and a rights-based approach, calling partnerships “crucial for a more inclusive, fair, and sustainable world of work.”
The event featured two Marketplace sessions where participants presented projects on women’s empowerment, youth employment, occupational safety, elimination of child labor, combating informal work, and promoting disability inclusion. Closing discussions emphasized that strong social dialogue and partnerships are key to advancing the decent work agenda in Türkiye.
The ILO Türkiye Office reaffirmed its commitment to capacity-building, dialogue, and collective action, stressing that collaboration and shared knowledge are vital to creating a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world of work.
