During his working visit to Turkey, General Secretary of the Organization of Turkic Countries’ Trade Unions and Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Satybaldy Dauletalin, held a series of meetings with the President of the Organization of Turkic Countries’ Trade Unions and the President of the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş), Ergün Atalay, Turkey’s Minister of Labor and Social Security, Vedat Yıshıkan, trade union leaders from Türk-İş, and social partners from the fraternal country.
It’s worth noting that in 2019, an Agreement on Cooperation was signed between the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ). A significant continuation of the development of cooperation between the national trade union centers of Kazakhstan and Turkey was the establishment, on July 29, 2023, in the city of Shusha, of the Organization of Professional Unions of Turkic States, which included the national trade union centers of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. On September 22, 2023, the Founding Assembly took place in Samarkand, and on November 29, in Ankara, the I Congress of the new integration association was held, where Ergün Atalay was elected President of the Organization, and Satybaldy Dauletalin, Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan, was re-elected as Secretary-General.
During the meeting on April 22, the heads of the National Trade Union Centers – partners discussed current issues related to the development of activities of the new international trade union structure, including the prospects for the development of medical and health tourism within the Organization of Turkic Countries’ Trade Unions. Satybaldy Dauletalin emphasized the importance of developing new tourism opportunities for members of the Organization’s trade union.
During the meetings between the heads of the National Trade Union Centers and leaders of sectoral trade unions, the current state of affairs in the social and labor sphere of the two countries was also discussed. The parties outlined ways for further cooperation, ensuring workers’ rights, promoting decent work standards, and social justice.
The head of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan expressed gratitude to the leadership of TÜRK-İŞ for their support, understanding, and efforts in developing friendly relations between the trade unions of the two countries. “On behalf of the trade unions of Kazakhstan, I express to you sincere gratitude for your dedicated work for the benefit of workers. We highly value our business relations and strong friendship. Kazakhstan is actively working to improve labor standards, social protection, and ensure decent conditions for all workers in our countries,” emphasized Satybaldy Dauletalin.
One of the important points of the visit was a meeting between the Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Satybaldy Dauletalin, with the President of the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş), Ergün Atalay, and the Minister of Labor and Social Security of Turkey, Vedat Yıshıkan.
The meeting participants exchanged experiences in the development of social partnership in Kazakhstan and Turkey. Satybaldy Dauletalin shared with his Turkish colleagues the Kazakhstani experience in interacting with social partners.
In particular, he talked about the initiatives of the Federation of Trade Unions regarding the creation of decent working conditions, improving the welfare of workers, ensuring safety and occupational health, supporting vulnerable categories of workers, and achieving gender equality.
In turn, the President of the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş), Ergün Atalay, noted that improving labor standards and social protection remains a priority task for the trade unions of Turkey, as well as Kazakhstan.
The Minister of Labor and Social Security of Turkey, Vedat Yıshıkan, emphasized the relevance of issues related to social and labor protection, as well as pension and preferential provision for citizens.
The Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ) is the largest national trade union center in the Republic of Turkey, established in 1952, with member organizations in 35 sectors. The total membership of trade unions in TÜRK-İŞ is 1.4 million people. The Confederation has nine regional offices (Istanbul, Bursa, Izmir, Adana, Diyarbakir, Marmara, Eskişehir, Sivas, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) and 81 provincial representations operating throughout the country. TÜRK-İŞ is a member organization of the International Confederation of Trade Unions, the European Trade Union Confederation, and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD.
Ergün Atalay is the President of the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ). He began his career as a regular worker at the Adapazarı Wagon Factory. In 1978, he was appointed as a representative of the workers’ union at TÜVASAŞ. In December 2002, he was appointed as the Secretary-General of Education on the board of directors of TÜRK-İŞ, to which he joined as a deputy. Ergün Atalay was re-elected as the Chairman of TÜRK-İŞ at the 22nd and 23rd regular general assemblies held on December 3-6, 2015, and December 5-7, 2019.
Ergün Atalay advocates for the creation of trade union organizations without pressure from employers or bureaucracy: “The main cause of many problems in labor life is the absence of trade unions. The path to a better working life, better financial and social rights lies through joining trade unions. Where there is a trade union, there will be no labor exploitation and informality.”
Vedat Yıshıkan is the Minister of Labor and Social Security of Turkey (since June 4, 2023). Vedat Yıshıkan is a Turkish politician and professor. Among the important areas of his scientific activity are labor protection, workers’ rights, combating child labor, social policy, social issues, social services, social security, social benefits, low-income population groups, trade unions, and pension issues. Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions at the Family Services Application Center of Hacettepe University, served as the general coordinator of the first field study of the Family Social Support Program (ASDEP), and chaired the Social Policy Council under the President, among others. For his significant research, practice, and contribution to stress management at the national and international levels, Mr. Yıshıkan was awarded the 2016 Council Award by the Expert Council of the International Stress Management Association.
Media Center of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan