Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Fields of Labour and Employment Signed between Türkiye and Libya

Prof. Dr. Vedat Işıkhan, Minister of Labour and Social Security, met with Ali Al-Abed Al-Rida, Minister of Labour and Rehabilitation of the Government of National Unity of Libya. The meeting, held at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, focused primarily on strengthening relations between the two countries and cooperation in the fields of labour markets and social security. Following the meeting, the two ministers signed the “Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Türkiye and the Government of National Unity of the State of Libya on Cooperation in the Fields of Labour and Employment.”

Emphasising that the Republic of Türkiye attached great importance to further developing longstanding relations with friendly and brotherly Libya in all fields and advancing cooperation between the two countries, Minister Işıkhan said: “We continue to maintain close contact and solidarity with Libya, particularly with regard to protecting our common rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean and strengthening cooperation between our countries. The strong bonds of friendship and brotherhood between our Esteemed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity of Libya, provide us with important guidance in further developing relations between our countries. As the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, we attach great importance to enhancing our cooperation with our Libyan counterparts in the fields of labour and employment.”

Third Meeting in One and a Half Years

Noting that the meeting was also significant as it marked the third meeting held between the two sides within a period of one and a half years, Minister Işıkhan said, “During our most recent meeting held last October on the sidelines of the Conference of Labour Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Doha, we agreed to finalise the Memorandum of Understanding to be signed today as soon as possible. I am pleased that, thanks to the dedicated and intensive efforts of our technical delegations, we have brought the Memorandum of Understanding to the signing stage within such a short period of time.”

Vocational Training, Labour Force Adaptation Programmes and Cooperation in Various Fields

Stating that the Memorandum of Understanding would provide a more planned, systematic and institutional framework for cooperation between the Ministries, Işıkhan said, “Within this framework, we will mutually share knowledge, experience and best practices in the development of vocational training and labour force adaptation programmes, combating unemployment, promoting a culture of occupational health and safety, establishing national occupational standards, and other important areas of working life. We will regularly assess our cooperation in the fields of labour and employment through the Joint Working Committee to be established under the Memorandum of Understanding. I hope that, in line with the action plans to be prepared, we will place our cooperation on a specific timetable with concrete objectives and regularly monitor the results we achieve. I believe that this step we are taking today will not only strengthen our relations in the fields of labour and employment, but will also contribute to further strengthening the bonds of friendship and brotherhood between Türkiye and Libya. I believe that the historical, cultural and human ties between Türkiye and Libya will be further reinforced through our joint projects in the fields of working life and employment in the period ahead. With this understanding, we aim to implement concrete cooperation projects in the coming period and turn the signature we have put today into the beginning of a strong implementation process.”

Following the speeches, Prof. Dr. Vedat Işıkhan, Minister of Labour and Social Security of the Republic of Türkiye, and Ali Al-Abed Al-Rida, Minister of Labour and Rehabilitation of the Government of National Unity of Libya, signed the “Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Türkiye and the Government of National Unity of the State of Libya on Cooperation in the Fields of Labour and Employment.”