Hamza Öksüz Attends the Seminar on "Digital Workplaces and Security: Cross-Border Social Dialogue"

Hamza Öksüz, Vice President of Memur-Sen, attended the international seminar titled "Digital Workplaces and Security: Cross-Border Social Dialogue," held in Ohrid, North Macedonia, on October 10-11, 2024, organized by the UNASM Confederation with the support of EZA and the EU.

In his speech during the seminar, Öksüz emphasized the importance of digitalization and cross-border social dialogue. He said, "As Memur-Sen Confederation, we find such events highly beneficial for sharing experiences, identifying problems, and finding joint solutions." Öksüz also shared the steps Memur-Sen has taken toward digitalization, stating that "human labor is the greatest value in history" and that digitalization, when proper precautions are taken, does not pose a threat to human labor but offers opportunities.

Öksüz further stated that they operate with the understanding that "technology should serve humans, not the other way around," and that they are working intensively to make the most of digitalization. He added that all unions affiliated with Memur-Sen have implemented a digital member tracking system and provided distance education opportunities for members and their children. Hamza Öksüz also announced the launch of a digital discount application specifically for members under social unionism.

He also touched on EU-supported projects, highlighting studies on the effects of digitalization and artificial intelligence on the working life. 

"There is a need for national software development"

Hamza Öksüz once again emphasized the importance of cross-border social dialogue, stressing the necessity of global cooperation to solve current problems, use technology for welfare, and build a more just world. He mentioned the establishment of the ILC, of which UNASM is a member, on October 21, 2022, explaining that this organization operates to further strengthen the sanctity of labor and hard work on an international level. Öksüz also addressed Turkey's priorities in digitalization on the global stage, underlining efforts made to improve the rights of workers on digital platforms.

Öksüz concluded by addressing the incident where Israel detonated communication devices in Lebanon, pointing out that this event once again exposed the threats posed by technology to border security. He emphasized the urgent need for the development of national software, as highlighted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.