Minister of Labour and Social Security, Sadık Gardiyanoğlu, evaluated the conference he attended in Ankara on working life in Turkic states to Anadolu Agency.

Stressing that despite being geographically distant, Turkic states shared common ground in terms of religion, language, and culture, Gardiyanoğlu noted that they conducted similar work and had decided to collaborate more frequently.

Gardiyanoğlu stated that the lack of social security agreements with Turkish states other than Türkiye has disadvantaged foreign citizens working in the TRNC when they return to their home countries.

Noting that many citizens from states that are members of the Organization of Turkic States continued their professional lives in the TRNC with work permits, he added that they only had a social security agreement with Türkiye.

Expressing his focus on establishing similar agreements with other Turkic states, Gardiyanoğlu said, “I brought this issue to the table on the first day during the Round Table Meeting. I also addressed it during the panel. Most likely, in the coming months, our Social Security Institution will make institutional agreements with the relevant Turkic states.”

Pointing out that over 10,000 people from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan work under social security coverage in the TRNC, he said, “Unfortunately, when they return to their home countries, they cannot benefit from this social security. This was the greatest gain. We brought awareness of this to the table.”