Policy areas

As the only agency within the UN with a tripartite structure, ILO strives to guarantee the core elements of social justice, which are respect for human rights, decent living standards, human working conditions, employment opportunity and economic security for working people everywhere. In line with this objective, the ILO aims to combat child labour, to increase women and youth employment, to strengthen social dialogue and eliminate informal economy.

  1. Child labour

    The ILO and its partners stand for a world where no girl or boy is forced to work at the expense of their health and development or their future prospects of decent work. ILO’s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) was created in 1992 with the overall goal of the progressive elimination of child labour, which was to be achieved through strengthening the capacity of countries -including Turkey- to deal with the problem and promoting a worldwide movement to combat child labour. Through these efforts, the number of child labour decreased radically in Turkey.

  2. Women's employment

    Gender equality is at the heart of ILO’s “Decent Work for All Men and Women” agenda. The ILO and its constituents around the world pursue a wide range of activities that use gender mainstreaming as a strategy to achieve gender equality. As part of its program of activities, ILO Ankara Office has launched a project to enhance women employment in Turkey.

  3. Youth employment

    Achieving decent work for youth is a challenge shared by all countries around the world. All too often, they work unacceptably long hours under informal and insecure work arrangements, meagre earnings and reduced labour protection. With its expertise, tripartite constituency and global alliances, ILO can act as a catalyst in mobilizing support and implementing integrated policies and programmes to provide decent and productive work for youth.

  4. Social dialogue

    Social dialogue, for ILO, means exchange of information between, or among, representatives of governments, employers and workers, on issues of common interest relating to economic and social policy. The main goal of social dialogue itself is to promote consensus building and democratic involvement among the main stakeholders in the world of work. In line with this goal, the ILO Ankara Office facilitated the social dialogue among the representatives of government representatives, employer organizations and trade unions. As a result of this social dialogue, parties have decided to work to increase employment and tackle the informal economy as a priority.

  5. Occupational Safety and Health

    Against the background of Turkey’s international commitments under ILO Conventions, the ILO office in Ankara is managing a one year technical assistance project namely “Improving Occupational Health And Safety In Turkey Through Compliance With International Labour Standards” aimed at facilitating, in tripartite consultation, the national efforts to improve occupational safety and health, in particular in the areas of mining and construction. The assistance is provided in the context of national laws and regulations and the political and strategial framework drawn up by the Government and its tripartite constituents in the Occupational Safety and Health (III) National Policy Document and Action Plan (2014-2018).