ILC Delegation Holds High-Level Meetings in Iran and Iraq

During an official visit to Iran and Iraq, Ali Yalçın, President of Memur-Sen and the International Labour Confederation (ILC), and Hamza Öksüz, ILC Secretary General, held a series of meetings focused on trade union cooperation, regional solidarity, and the future of the labor movement.

Strengthening Labor Solidarity and Dialogue in Iraq

The Memur-Sen and ILC delegation met with senior officials, trade union leaders, educational institutions, and ambassadors in both Iran and Iraq. The discussions focused on enhancing regional cooperation, strengthening trade union organization, and expanding joint capacity-building programs.

In Iraq, the delegation met with Settar Denbous, President of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions and Member of the ILC Board of Directors. The meeting addressed strategies for strengthening international trade union partnerships and advancing ILC’s future activity plan.

Denbous emphasized the importance of the ILC for regional trade union solidarity, stating: “For the Iraqi labor movement, enhancing international solidarity, increasing the exchange of experience, and convening joint workshops are of great importance.”

President Ali Yalçın and Secretary General Hamza Öksüz underlined that: “The essential mission of trade unions goes beyond defending rights—it is also to build common sense and solidarity. Strengthening the trade union structure in Iraq will bring new momentum to the regional labor movement.”

The delegation also met with the Iraqi Minister of Labor, who shared insights about ongoing legislative reforms, noting: “We aim to build a more inclusive framework for trade union organization by drawing on international experience.”

As part of the visit, the delegation met with the Iraqi Teachers’ Union to discuss current developments in education. Ali Yalçın stressed the universal role of teachers, saying: “While the challenges in education may differ, the social role of teachers is universal. Cooperation among teachers’ unions is of strategic importance for our collective future.”

The program continued with a visit to Turkey’s Ambassador to Baghdad, Anıl Bora İnan, who remarked: “The active role of the Turkish trade union movement in the region is valuable not only for workers’ rights but also for regional peace.”

The final stop in Iraq was a visit to Baghdad Mansour Maarif School, where the delegation discussed educational cooperation and exchanged views on ongoing initiatives.

Expanding Trade Union Cooperation and Regional Solidarity in Iran

In Iran, the delegation participated in a Board of Directors meeting of the Worker’s House, one of the country’s oldest labor organizations and a member of the ILC Board. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Iranian Presidency, Worker’s House officials, and members of the media.

In his address, Ali Yalçın praised the Worker’s House for its valuable contributions to the labor movement, stating: “We appreciate the important role the Worker’s House plays for its members. As the ILC, we issued a declaration of solidarity during the Israeli attacks. Once again, I would like to stress that we are determined to strengthen the bonds of solidarity between our organizations. Israel poses a threat not only to the region but to all humanity.”

Ali Reza Mahjoob, President of the Worker’s House, emphasized the importance of the ILC’s mission, saying: “The ILC represents the most genuine voice of labor in the world. The steps taken toward a fairer world carry historic significance. As the Worker’s House, we are ready to host ILC’s training programs.”

“We Must Work Harder Than Ever” – Building the Future Through Education

As part of their program, the delegation visited the Worker’s House Consumer Cooperative, its affiliated elementary school, media institutions, and the University of Applied Science and Technology in Tehran. Speaking to students, Yalçın stated: “Raising a generation that will become the hope of the future is our shared responsibility. That is why we must work harder than ever.”

The delegation also met with Iranian Minister of Labor Ahmed Miri and President of the Institute of Labour and Social Security Sadeghi Far, discussing occupational health and safety, trade union cooperation, and joint training initiatives.

The visit concluded with a meeting with Turkey’s Ambassador to Tehran, Hicabi Kırlangıç, who received the delegation and reviewed the outcomes of the visit, exploring potential areas of future cooperation.

“Regional Peace and Stability Depend on Labor Solidarity”

Throughout the visit, President Ali Yalçın emphasized that labor organizations bear responsibility not only for national development but also for regional peace and stability, stating: “A fairer world is possible only through collective effort. In our region, peace and stability can be achieved only when peoples and workers stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity.”