The Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) of the International Labour Organization (ILO), represented by Desk Officer for Europe and Central Asia Sergejus Glovackas, conducted a working visit to Türkiye on 17 December 2025. The visit included a series of meetings and consultations aimed at strengthening cooperation with workers’ organizations, supporting fundamental principles and rights at work, and enhancing the technical capacities of trade unions.
As part of the programme, an introductory and consultation meeting was held with representatives of trade unions benefiting from the Grant Support Programme under the project Strengthening Social Partners and Civil Society Capacities on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, implemented by the ILO Office for Türkiye with financial support from the European Union Delegation to Türkiye. The meeting, attended by ILO Office for Türkiye Director Yasser Hassan and Alessandro Angius of the EU Delegation, provided information on ACTRAV’s priorities in Europe and Central Asia, as well as its technical assistance, capacity-building, and policy advisory services for workers’ organizations.
During the consultation, grant beneficiary trade unions shared their experiences from the project, highlighting challenges in areas such as freedom of association, collective bargaining, the exercise of the right to strike, and the effectiveness of social dialogue mechanisms. Participants also discussed strategies for sustaining and disseminating the achievements of the projects to maximize long-term impact.
Following the consultation, Glovackas held separate meetings with leaders of Türkiye’s major trade union confederations, including Ramazan Ağar of TÜRK-İŞ, Mahmut Arslan of HAK-İŞ, and Ayfer Koçak of KESK. Discussions focused on priority issues for the confederations, current labour challenges, and common concerns across the trade union movement. Key topics included strengthening social dialogue, promoting fair wages, improving occupational safety and health, combating informal employment, and safeguarding trade union rights.
Glovackas reaffirmed ACTRAV’s commitment to ongoing cooperation with workers’ organizations and emphasized the provision of technical support where needed. He also noted that Türkiye’s trade unions, with their experience and institutional capacity, have significant potential to support and strengthen workers’ organizations in Central Asia and the Caucasus
