Minister Işıkhan attended the ‘G20 Labor and Employment Ministers Meeting’

The Minister of Labor and Social Security, Vedat Işıkhan, stated, “We plan to prepare and implement a national level Just Transition Strategy under the coordination of our Ministry until 2026.”
Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan participated in the “Just Transition Leadership Forum” organized as part of the “G20 Labor and Employment Ministers’ Meeting” held in Fortaleza, Brazil. In his speech here, Işıkhan thanked the Brazilian government for their hospitality and efforts regarding the G20 Presidency. He also expressed his gratitude to all G20 countries, international organizations, and members of the G20 Employment Working Group for their valuable contributions to shaping the Ministers’ Declaration, stating, “Today, we have come together in this forum to discuss an idea that goes beyond rhetoric and forms the foundation of our future: Just Transition. In these times when we face environmental challenges and technological advancements, it is crucial to reassess our approaches to the world of work and employment policies.”
Işıkhan emphasized that the rise of automation, artificial intelligence, and environmentally friendly green technologies is reshaping various industries, invalidating some jobs while also creating new job opportunities, stating:
“To successfully carry out green and digital transformation, we as G20 countries must equip individuals with the necessary skills for green jobs and the jobs of the future. In this context, if you allow me, I would like to share Turkey’s efforts, policies, and programs for a just transition. Under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey has undertaken various initiatives to support a just transition by balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability and social equity. As the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, we have prepared a draft National Employment Strategy for the 2024-2028 period in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. One of the four main policy axes of the draft strategy is the development of skills that meet the demands of green and digital transformation. Additionally, just transition has been integrated as a cross-cutting issue among other policy axes. Turkey is implementing policies and incentives aimed at promoting the development of renewable energy resources, contributing to the creation of green jobs, and reducing dependency on fossil fuels.”

“A just transition represents an opportunity to build an equitable and sustainable economy”
Işıkhan pointed out that a Climate Change Action Plan has been put into action in Turkey to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and he stated that Turkey is exploring mechanisms to ensure a fair and inclusive transition to a low-carbon economy by combining measures to support affected workers through retraining initiatives, social protection programs, and economic diversification strategies. Işıkhan continued his speech as follows:
“In this context, we prepared the Green Deal Action Plan in 2021 to support green transformation in line with the European Green Deal. Just transition has been identified as a priority policy focus of this action plan. The establishment of the Green and Social Economy Transformation Unit within our Ministry emphasizes our determination to coordinate efforts for green and digital economic transformation and just transition. In addition, a dialogue platform has been created to collaboratively develop just transition policies with the participation of the public, social partners, and civil society representatives. We plan to prepare and implement a national level Just Transition Strategy under the coordination of our Ministry by 2026. This underscores Turkey’s unwavering commitment to achieving a just transition that benefits all segments of society and responds to environmental imperatives. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that a just transition represents an opportunity to build a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable economy. While combating the challenges of the 21st century, from climate change to disruptive technologies, we must ensure that our path is characterized by justice and inclusivity. By adopting policies that meet the needs of all segments of society, support principles of equality, and facilitate sustainable growth, we can pave the way for a future where prosperity is accessible to all.