President Yalçın Attends the ILO 113th International Labour Conference

Memur-Sen President Ali Yalçın, accompanied by Vice President Hamza Öksüz and the delegation, attended the 113th International Labour Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The delegation held consultations on behalf of the global labour movement throughout the conference.

From the very first days of the conference, the Memur-Sen delegation engaged in intense diplomatic outreach with prominent labour organizations from Asia, Africa, and the Arab world. They held strategic bilateral meetings with confederations such as SEWFOT (Thailand), SOCOTU (Somalia), MTUC (Maldives), K-SARBUMUSI (Indonesia), BMS and NFITU (India), GFIW (Iraq), PGFTU (Palestine), and the National Labour Committee of Saudi Arabia, among others.

During the meetings, President Ali Yalçın emphasized that, as the largest labour confederation in Türkiye, Memur-Sen is an active part of the international trade union movement. He underlined their commitment to advancing a labour vision based on justice, solidarity, and human dignity on a global scale. He also expressed a desire to engage in negotiations that would lay the groundwork for concrete areas of cooperation and long-term partnerships.

The bilateral discussions addressed structural issues such as strengthening the right to organize, securing the right to fair and decent wages, building trade union capacity, and developing joint strategies to address the impact of digitalization on labour markets.

Strengthening International Cooperation

President Yalçın stated that Memur-Sen has developed a unionist approach that assumes global responsibility not only for Türkiye but also for the international labour community—through international congresses, field solidarity programs, and humanitarian aid to crisis zones. Memur-Sen’s principled, pluralist, and proactive trade union approach was met with appreciation by its counterparts.

Requests from confederations in different countries for reciprocal visits, educational partnerships, and joint initiatives have clearly demonstrated that Memur-Sen has become a reference actor not only at the national level but also globally.

On the second day of the conference, the Memur-Sen delegation attended a reception hosted by Ambassador Burak Akçapar, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Türkiye to the United Nations Office in Geneva. At the event, the delegation also met with Minister of Labour and Social Security Prof. Dr. Vedat Işıkhan and held conversations with embassy staff who are members of Memur-Sen.

Minister Işıkhan: Türkiye Is a Key Actor

Speaking at the plenary session on the third day of the conference, Minister Işıkhan emphasized that Türkiye has ratified all of the ILO’s fundamental conventions and that its national labour legislation is continuously being improved. Stressing Türkiye’s commitment to the principle of “decent work,” Işıkhan highlighted the country’s contribution to international initiatives and its role as a strong actor for global social justice. He also expressed Türkiye’s support for a two-state solution for Palestine and welcomed the decision granting Palestine observer state status at the ILO.

During the follow-up meeting with ILC constituents, President Ali Yalçın and Vice President Hamza Öksüz shared their views on strengthening the international labour movement, improving the living standards of workers, and promoting freedom of association globally.

Palestine Granted Observer State Status

Vice President of Memur-Sen and Secretary General of the International Labour Confederation (ILC), Hamza Öksüz, participated in the Palestine Session organized by the Arab Labour Organization (ALO) as part of the ILO 113th Conference. During the session, the delegation held meetings with Dr. Enas Hosni Abdel Ghani, Minister of Labour of Palestine, and Fayez Almutairi, Director General of the ALO. Following the session, further talks were held with the ALO Director General. At the conclusion of this critical session, the ILO officially adopted a decision granting Palestine observer state status.

Key Decisions of Importance for Memur-Sen Taken at the ILO 113th Conference:

Adoption of the Biological Hazards in the Working Environment Convention (No. 192)
Adoption of the Biological Hazards in the Working Environment Recommendation (No. 209)
Official recognition of Palestine as an observer state at the ILO