ANKARA (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Türkiye has opened five more Information Centres (BILMERs) in Bursa, Reyhanlı district of Hatay and two centres in Istanbul, namely one with Istanbul Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen of All Metallic Goods (IMESOB) and the other with Sultanbeyli Municipality. In addition to BILMERs already operating in Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Konya, Adana, Mersin and Ankara, BILMERs offer services to micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) within unions of chambers of tradesmen and craftsmen and municipalities to support the formalization of both Syrian and Turkish micro-businesses as well as their employees.

Until the end of 2022, these centres provide up to 10,000 labour market consultations for informal employees and facilitating up to 2,400 formalizations-related consultations in BILMERs offer services across various provinces of Türkiye. In addition, financial support will be provided up to 10 percent of BILMER beneficiaries for transition to formality.

“Our common aim for creating more resources to create decent jobs unites us with our partners and we continue to work for more people in decent jobs across Türkiye. More people are in decent jobs, means stronger, inclusive and sustainable economy” said Numan Özcan, Director of the ILO Office for Türkiye.

BILMERs across Türkiye deliver guidance and counselling to MSMEs, tradesmen and craftsmen and their employees to increase their awareness on the rules and regulations governing the labour market through strengthening the service delivery and outreach capacity of the respective partners. BILMERs refer both Turkish and Syrian workers and jobseekers to training and employment opportunities, and support work permit applications by Syrians under Temporary Protection. Services are provided in both Turkish and Arabic languages.

By visiting BILMERs, employers and employees can also find information on ILO’s Work-Based Learning Programme (WBL/ISMEP) which supports employees and enterprises for transition to formality, and support skills development.

Reyhanlı Mayor Mehmet Hacıoğlu underlined that Reyhanlı BILMER would contribute greatly to the efforts for preventing informal employment and raising the awareness of tradesmen, craftsmen and micro enterprises on the business market.

IMESOB President Cevher Kartal said: “The knowledge and experience derived through BILMER will significantly contribute to making realistic socio-economic decisions to meet the dynamic needs of the labour market”.

BILMERs are established under the project on “Promoting Decent Work for Syrians under Temporary Protection and Turkish Citizens”, funded by the Federal Republic of Germany through the KfW Development Bank and implemented by the ILO Office for Türkiye in coordination with the Directorate-General for International Labour Force (DGILF) of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS).

For more information: Kıvanç Özvardar Bahar, Communication Officer, ILO Office for Türkiye: ozvardar@ilo.org