Minister Işıkhan Attended the Closing Conference of the Supporting Registered Women Employment Project

Minister of Labour and Social Security Prof. Dr. Vedat Işıkhan attended the Closing Conference of the Supporting Registered Women Employment Project (Women-Up) organized by the Social Security Institution.

Minister Işıkhan delivered a speech within the program and pointed out that there were many risks that caused an individual to be excluded from working life and expressed, “If any of these risks occur, social security systems are involved to prevent the loss of a person's income. There is a developed and inclusive social security system in our country. However, the most basic condition of benefiting from this system is registered employment. Because no matter how extensively an individual works, the benefits provided by the social security system if he works informally have no meaning.”

Drawing attention to the fact that Türkiye, which already has a young population, has entered a rapid aging process according to the projections, Işıkhan continued as follows:

“A decrease in the active population and an increase in the passive population will lead to a decrease in premium revenues, as well as an increase in expenditures in the social security system. This situation, especially in countries that apply the pay-as-you-go method, such as ours, may negatively affect the social security systems and threaten sustainability. Our country is currently undergoing a transformation period from high fertility rates to low fertility rates, and it is in the “demographic window of opportunity” period, when the working-age population is relatively large. This period offers countries a unique opportunity for growth if the right policies are implemented. However, if not properly utilized correctly, it also brings problems such as unemployment, low wages and poverty.”

“We are Moving Forward Towards a More Inclusive and Sustainable Social Security System with Confidence”

Minister Işıkhan stated that while participation in working life and inclusion in the social security system are universal rights, there are certain difficulties for some groups, adding the following: “Among these groups are agricultural workers, domestic workers, young people, NEETs, women, people with disabilities, and migrants. The common feature of these groups is that they face various barriers to employment, are more vulnerable to informal work and are at risk of insufficient access to social security system. However, thanks to the decisive steps we have taken in recent years, I am pleased to express that these risks have been significantly reduced and that we are taking firm steps towards a more inclusive and sustainable social security system,”

In particular, emphasizing that there has been a noticeable increase in women's participation in the labour market, Işıkhan stated as follows: “Although women employment is shaped by many factors such as age, marital status, and spousal income, it is encouraging and motivating for us to see that these barriers are increasingly being overcome today. Women are no longer only in home-based or part-time jobs and they are taking on active roles in society across a wide range of fields from entrepreneurship to management, from art to science, and from industry to technology.”

“At the Beginning of the 2000s, the Participation Rate of Women in the Labour Force was around 26%, This Rate Has Increased to the Around 36% Today”

Minister Işıkhan explained that the participation of women in the labor force has increased while the number of women in informal employment has declined.

“At the beginning of the 2000s, the participation rate of women in the labour force was around 26% whereas today this rate has increased to the around 36%. Similarly when we consider the informal employment rate among women, it was around 65% in 2005, but today it has declined to about 31%. Thankfully, through the projects we conducted and support mechanisms, there has also been a significant increase in women's participation rates in the labor force. We witness that these roles and responsibilities constantly increase in favor of women in terms of employment in our country. I would like to highlight that the social and economic status of women has improved and that the social policies we have been carrying out for 23 years under the leadership of our President have also had a crucial impact.”

“We will Implement a Large Number of New Activities and Programs that will Further Increase the Women Employment”

Minister Işıkhan emphasized that every step taken today aims at a fairer and stronger future for not only women, but also for children, families and society as a whole, adding the following: “Of course, our goals are not limited to these. In the upcoming period, we will implement a large number of activities and programs which will further increase women's employment, supporting their entrepreneurship, promoting registered employment and ensuring that they benefit from the social security system at the highest level. We firmly believe that a stronger participation of women in the labor market will not only be a gain for the individual, but it will also be a great achievement in terms of our economic, social and social development. We will continue on our path with the same determination in the period ahead.”

“The project was honored with the ‘Good Practice Merit Award' at the European Social Security Forum’ in 2024”

Speaking about the “Supporting Registered Women Employment Project" whose closing conference was held, Minister Işıkhan stated: “The project has not only increased women's participation in employment but it has also made significant contributions to strengthening our social security system and making our labor market more inclusive. When we take into consideration some of the outstanding results of the project, a total grant support of approximately 41.1 million euros has been provided. Through Academic Advisory Boards, trainings, entrepreneurship camps and media activities, we have supported the development of women's entrepreneurial capacities. And social awareness has also been increased about the importance of registered employment. The knowledge and skills of our women employers have been developed in subjects such as competitiveness, brand management, e-commerce and financial literacy. The project has also received international recognition. As you have seen at the entrance, the International Social Security Association ISSA presented the ‘Good Practice Merit Award' at the European Social Security Forum in 2024.

Emphasizing that these results are indicators not only of numerical goals, but also of women's stronger participation in economic and social life, Minister Işıkhan continued his words as follows:

“Women's participation in employment is not only an individual gain, but it also makes a direct contribution to the well-being of families, the development of society and the sustainable growth of our country. The Women-Up Project has gone down in history as a strong example of this vision. From now on, our Ministry will continue its efforts without interruption to further increase women's participation in employment, support their entrepreneurship and encourage registered employment.”

At the end of his speech, Minister Işıkhan expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the project.