Fundamental Labour Rights Project organizes Training of Trainers for Social Partners
A Training of Trainers Workshop was organized for the experts who will run the training programme developed under the Fundamental Labour Rights Project. “The environment for discussion that was created, in which representatives of both the worker and employer sides had the chance to share their views and, more importantly, understand each other, was particularly valuable."
2 April 2024
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ANKARA (ILO News) - The modular training programme developed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Türkiye within the scope of the Fundamental Labour Rights Project was introduced to representatives of workers' and employers' organizations at a Training of Trainers Workshop.
The workshop was organized within the scope of the “Strengthening Social Partners and Civil Society Capacities on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work” project run by the ILO Office for Türkiye with the financial support of the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye with the aim of promoting the application of fundamental principles and rights at work. Joining the Training of Trainers Workshop event, which was held at the ILO Office for Türkiye on 26–28 March 2024, were representatives from the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK), the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ), HAK-IS Trade Union Confederation, the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Türkiye (DİSK) and the Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Unions (KESK).
Having completed the workshop, the participants will take an active role in the provision of training trade union representatives until 2026, with a target of reaching 1,000 people in total. The training addressed such topics as the ILO Conventions, as well as supervision mechanisms, labour law, the future of work and unionization.
The meeting began with opening remarks by Mr. Yasser Hassan, Director of the ILO Office for Türkiye, and continued with a presentation by Emre Dönmez, Senior Project Coordinator at the ILO, who provided general information about the project and the modular training programme. The first day sessions included an introduction to the modules on “Access to Justice for Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work" prepared by Prof. Dr. Gaye Burcu Yıldız for the project.
On the second day of the programme, the morning session was allocated to Prof. Dr. Ayhan Görmüş who introduced the training module on “The Future of Work”, while the afternoon sessions included the presentation of the “Social Vulnerability Analysis in Energy Transition” report compiled by Tanyeli Sabuncu, Climate and Energy Practice Manager at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and Demet Taşkan and Dilara Genç from Adhoc Research; and a presentation of the ILO-supported report entitled “Reducing Waste Towards a Just Transition: Exploring Work, Labour, and Value in the Informal Recycling Chain” by faculty members Dr. Umut Kuruüzüm and İrem Şimşek, as well as Eyyüp Göreke and Beyza Gülgönül.
The third and final day of the workshop opened with a presentation by Prof. Dr. Banu Uçkan Hekimler on the “Freedom of Association and Its Practices”, and concluded with a session on Adult Training Techniques, by Assoc. Prof. Serap Emil.
Commenting on the programme, Emre Dönmez, Senior Project Coordinator, said that the training of trainers workshop would facilitate the provision of training programmes in cooperation with the ILO and the social partners, and that the sustainability of the training programmes in the project had been ensured.
Attorney Nagehan Akan, Deputy Secretary General of TİSK, said: “The subjects addressed in the training were topics that we – as the stakeholders in the world of work – have all heard about, but actually know very little about. The fact that we now have a deeper understanding of these subjects is very valuable. The modular nature of the training programme makes it possible to tailor future trainings to specific needs and different trainers. I must say, this is a very effective approach. The environment for discussion that was created, in which representatives of both the worker and employer sides had the chance to share their views and, more importantly, understand each other, was particularly valuable."
Barış İyiaydın, Social Security Advisor at TÜRK-İŞ, said: "I found the Training of Trainers Workshop Programme to be both useful and educational. The trainers were very successful in presenting a wide range of topics in a short period of time. I think the fact that the meeting was interactive and that the participants were able to present practical examples enriched the workshops."
İsmet Aslan, Expert at KESK, said: “The evaluation and reflection on the problems and difficulties experienced in our country related to unionization and freedom of association within the framework of ILO’s Fundamental Conventions were particularly efficient. The presentations of the esteemed professors, who are well known and in their fields of specialization, contributed greatly to the programme. The topics covered related to the future of work and the new challenges and opportunities that will arise in unionization broadened our perspectives. The fact that the training was based not only on theoretical information, but was supported by reports from field studies and practical examples of adult training on how to transfer what we have learned, is indicative of the preparation and meticulous work that has gone into the training programme. Once again, we as the Confederation of Public Employees Trade Unions (KESK) express our thanks to the project team and the ILO Office for Türkiye.”
Designed to complement Türkiye’s 11th Development Plan, the National Employment Strategy and the 8th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for 2030, the project aims to improve the capacities of social partners and rights-based civil society organizations (CSOs).
The project, which aims to contribute to the capacity building of workers' and employers' organizations and rights-based CSOs, is financially supported by the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye.
To this end, the project includes such activities as a needs analysis study for the target group, the preparation of thematic research reports, the establishment of an electronic library, the organization of training programmes and workshops for the target group, and grant support opportunities.
The workshop was organized within the scope of the “Strengthening Social Partners and Civil Society Capacities on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work” project run by the ILO Office for Türkiye with the financial support of the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye with the aim of promoting the application of fundamental principles and rights at work. Joining the Training of Trainers Workshop event, which was held at the ILO Office for Türkiye on 26–28 March 2024, were representatives from the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK), the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ), HAK-IS Trade Union Confederation, the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Türkiye (DİSK) and the Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Unions (KESK).
Having completed the workshop, the participants will take an active role in the provision of training trade union representatives until 2026, with a target of reaching 1,000 people in total. The training addressed such topics as the ILO Conventions, as well as supervision mechanisms, labour law, the future of work and unionization.
The meeting began with opening remarks by Mr. Yasser Hassan, Director of the ILO Office for Türkiye, and continued with a presentation by Emre Dönmez, Senior Project Coordinator at the ILO, who provided general information about the project and the modular training programme. The first day sessions included an introduction to the modules on “Access to Justice for Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work" prepared by Prof. Dr. Gaye Burcu Yıldız for the project.
On the second day of the programme, the morning session was allocated to Prof. Dr. Ayhan Görmüş who introduced the training module on “The Future of Work”, while the afternoon sessions included the presentation of the “Social Vulnerability Analysis in Energy Transition” report compiled by Tanyeli Sabuncu, Climate and Energy Practice Manager at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and Demet Taşkan and Dilara Genç from Adhoc Research; and a presentation of the ILO-supported report entitled “Reducing Waste Towards a Just Transition: Exploring Work, Labour, and Value in the Informal Recycling Chain” by faculty members Dr. Umut Kuruüzüm and İrem Şimşek, as well as Eyyüp Göreke and Beyza Gülgönül.
The third and final day of the workshop opened with a presentation by Prof. Dr. Banu Uçkan Hekimler on the “Freedom of Association and Its Practices”, and concluded with a session on Adult Training Techniques, by Assoc. Prof. Serap Emil.
Commenting on the programme, Emre Dönmez, Senior Project Coordinator, said that the training of trainers workshop would facilitate the provision of training programmes in cooperation with the ILO and the social partners, and that the sustainability of the training programmes in the project had been ensured.
“The subjects addressed in the training were topics that we – as the stakeholders in the world of work – have all heard about, but actually know very little about. The fact that we now have a deeper understanding of these subjects is very valuable.”
The representatives of the social partners participating in the training stated their fulfillment with the workshop.Attorney Nagehan Akan, Deputy Secretary General of TİSK, said: “The subjects addressed in the training were topics that we – as the stakeholders in the world of work – have all heard about, but actually know very little about. The fact that we now have a deeper understanding of these subjects is very valuable. The modular nature of the training programme makes it possible to tailor future trainings to specific needs and different trainers. I must say, this is a very effective approach. The environment for discussion that was created, in which representatives of both the worker and employer sides had the chance to share their views and, more importantly, understand each other, was particularly valuable."
Barış İyiaydın, Social Security Advisor at TÜRK-İŞ, said: "I found the Training of Trainers Workshop Programme to be both useful and educational. The trainers were very successful in presenting a wide range of topics in a short period of time. I think the fact that the meeting was interactive and that the participants were able to present practical examples enriched the workshops."
İsmet Aslan, Expert at KESK, said: “The evaluation and reflection on the problems and difficulties experienced in our country related to unionization and freedom of association within the framework of ILO’s Fundamental Conventions were particularly efficient. The presentations of the esteemed professors, who are well known and in their fields of specialization, contributed greatly to the programme. The topics covered related to the future of work and the new challenges and opportunities that will arise in unionization broadened our perspectives. The fact that the training was based not only on theoretical information, but was supported by reports from field studies and practical examples of adult training on how to transfer what we have learned, is indicative of the preparation and meticulous work that has gone into the training programme. Once again, we as the Confederation of Public Employees Trade Unions (KESK) express our thanks to the project team and the ILO Office for Türkiye.”
About the Project
The project seeks to strengthen the application of fundamental principles and rights at work in Türkiye, as specified in the Fundamental Conventions of the ILO. The project framework is outlined in the Fundamental Conventions of the ILO, addressing such topics as the effective recognition of the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour, the effective eradication of child labour, the elimination of discrimination in employment and the workplace, and the establishment of safe and healthy working environments.Designed to complement Türkiye’s 11th Development Plan, the National Employment Strategy and the 8th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for 2030, the project aims to improve the capacities of social partners and rights-based civil society organizations (CSOs).
The project, which aims to contribute to the capacity building of workers' and employers' organizations and rights-based CSOs, is financially supported by the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye.
To this end, the project includes such activities as a needs analysis study for the target group, the preparation of thematic research reports, the establishment of an electronic library, the organization of training programmes and workshops for the target group, and grant support opportunities.