The "Workshop on Strengthening Cooperation Between Labour Inspection and the Judiciary in Türkiye", organized jointly by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Türkiye and the Directorate of Guidance and Inspection of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, brought together representatives from judicial institutions, public institutions, academia and international organizations. The event was held within the framework of the "Strengthening Workplace Compliance through Labour Inspection Guidance and Social Dialogue Project" implemented under the European Union Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance.
The workshop addressed existing practices between the labour inspection system and judicial authorities, institutional roles, and mechanisms aimed at improving coordination in the implementation of labour legislation. The event also included discussions on enhancing inter-institutional information sharing and supporting joint capacity-building activities.
Opening remarks were delivered by Erol Güner, Director of Directorate of Guidance and Inspection, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and Yasser Hassan, Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Türkiye. They emphasized the importance of effective cooperation between the labour inspection system and the judiciary for the implementation of labour legislation, the protection of workers' rights, and the promotion of decent working conditions.
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During the morning session of the workshop, the panel titled "Strengthening Cooperation Between Labour Inspection and the Judiciary: Steps Forward" focused on inter-institutional coordination mechanisms and opportunities for joint capacity-building activities. Moderated by Prof. Dr. Levent Akın from Ankara University Faculty of Law, the panel featured contributions from Mr. Uğur Yazıcı, Chief Labour Inspector at the Directorate of Guidance and Inspection; Mr. Emsal Sergen, President of the 33rd Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Appeal; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Seracettin Göktaş, President of the 9th Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation; and Prof. Dr. Muhittin Astarlı from Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University Faculty of Law. The panel discussed the role of labour inspection findings in judicial processes, as well as the need to develop sustainable cooperation and communication mechanisms among institutions.
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The afternoon sessions focused on international experiences and country examples. Nicolas Torres Vieira from the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC-ILO), Programme Officer for International Labour Standards, Rights at Work and Gender Equality, presented global approaches to the coordinated implementation of labour legislation and assessed opportunities and challenges related to strengthening cooperation between the national labour inspection system and the judiciary. The presentation also included assessments of the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) regarding cooperation between labour inspection and the judiciary in Türkiye, within the framework of Convention No. 81 on Labour Inspection, along with examples of cooperation between the judiciary and labour inspection in other countries.
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The final session of the day focused on institutionalized cooperation mechanisms between the labour inspection system and judicial institutions in Spain. Irene Marín, Deputy Director of the Spanish Labour and Social Security Inspectorate (ITSS), and Inmaculada Sánchez Sanchez, Deputy Director of the National Anti-Corruption Office, shared their experiences regarding inter-institutional communication and coordination practices. The session also addressed how these mechanisms support effective supervision and cooperation among relevant institutions.
At the end of the workshop, participants exchanged views on how strengthening sustainable cooperation and information sharing between the labour inspection system and judicial authorities could contribute to the more effective implementation of labour legislation and the promotion of decent working conditions in workplaces.
