The fourth meeting of the "Contact Group" between our Ministry and the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) was hosted by our Ministry in İzmir between 5 and 6 October 2022.

In the two days meeting held in Izmir Recreation and Training Facility of Social Security Institution (SSI), our Ministry was represented by Deputy General Director of Foreign Relations Mr. Ahmet Nazif GARİBAĞAOĞLU, Head of Protocol Department, Mr. Mertcan ALAYBEYOĞLU, SSI Head of Department of International Contracts and Pensions Mr. Ramazan ELMA, Labour Experts Mr. Mehmet SEVIM and Medeni Can AKIN, Social Security Experts Ms. Gülen Seda IMAMOĞLU and Mr. Behzat GÜRBÜZER, SSI Branch Manager Mr. Zalif MERT, Deputy Branch Manager Mr. Ferhat PARLAK and Assistant Labour Expert Mr. Berker YALDIZ.

The Dutch delegation headed by SZW General Director of International Relations Mr. Wilm GEURTS included representatives from Dutch Social Security Institution (SVB), Workers Insurance Corporation (UVW), as well as Ministry of Public Health and CAK, which is responsible for the uninsured health aids in the Netherlands.

The agenda item of updating the Social Security Agreement signed in 1967 in line with today's needs was discussed in the meeting. National practices and inter-institutional cooperation within the scope of the bilateral agreement were also discussed and parties agreed to continue the implementation process in close cooperation. In addition, parties decided to establish a Working Group in order to have an effective progress on the issues agreed by the delegations of both countries.