BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 5. The first meeting of ministers of labor, employment, and social protection of the Organization of Turkic-speaking States (OTS) was held in Baku, resulting in the signing of a declaration, Trend reports.
The meeting, titled "Cooperation in the field of labor for the sake of common prosperity in the Turkic states," is attended by leaders of labor, employment, and social protection institutions and the OTS from the organization's member states (Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan) and observer countries (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Hungary, and Turkmenistan).
Opening the event with an introductory speech, Anar Aliyev, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan, noted that expanding relations with OTS member countries and strengthening the Turkic world are among our country's priorities.
The minister highlighted the successes of social reforms carried out in our country in recent years, achievements in the digitization of public social services, the advantages of the DOST concept, and efforts to ensure employment for former internally displaced persons in liberated territories. He noted that Azerbaijan is interested in exchanging experience and successes in the field of employment and social protection with the member states of the Organization, as well as in studying the experience of these states in this area. He expressed confidence that today's meeting will contribute to the creation of a more inclusive and sustainable model of social development in our countries.
OTS Secretary-General Kubanychbek Omuraliev stressed that expanding cooperation in the field of labor, employment, and social protection between the Organization's member states is an important priority, and that today's meeting serves this purpose. Turkish Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan emphasized the special significance of today's first meeting of ministers of labor, employment, and social security of Turkic-speaking countries and the development of cooperation in the areas of labor, employment, and social security, guided by the “Vision of the Turkic World 2040.”
Kamchybek Dosmatov, First Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Protection, and Migration of Kyrgyzstan, emphasized the importance of coordinated cooperation measures and shared his vision for the development of the labor market. Emphasizing that Turkic countries are united by common roots and common strategic goals, Deputy Minister of Employment and Poverty Reduction of Uzbekistan Sirojiddin Bobokulov noted the importance of joint activities in areas such as investment in the development of labor skills, occupational safety, strengthening social dialogue, etc. Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Kazakhstan Viktoriya Shegay spoke about the widespread use of digital solutions in the field of labor and employment and social protection in her country and emphasized her commitment to deepening cooperation in this area.
Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), spoke about the social reforms being carried out in the TRNC. He called the experience of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population (DOST) of Azerbaijan exemplary in the Turkic world. State Secretary for Employment Policy of the Ministry of National Economy of Hungary, Sándor Czomba, and Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Turkmenistan, Halbibi Tachjanova, noted that today's event created an important platform for the development of cooperation in the field of labor, employment, and social protection.
Subsequently, the Declaration of the First Meeting of Ministers of Labor, Employment, and Social Protection of the Population of the Organization of Turkic-speaking States was signed. The document provides for strengthening cooperation between member states and observer states of the Organization in the field of labor legislation, protection of labor rights, occupational health and safety, ensuring gender equality, etc., taking measures to this end, as well as establishing a Working Group on Labor, Employment and Social Protection between ministries.
