By Fatih Erel

GENEVA

Labor and Social Security Minister Julide Sarieroglu on Tuesday highlighted the increase in women, youths and people with disabilities in working life in Turkey and the impact of the Syria crisis on the labor market.

"In Turkey, we developed a multifaceted policy that both protects and prioritizes women, youth and people with disabilities in working life," Sarieroglu said at the annual conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva.

"Within this framework, we achieved an increase of approximately nine million people in the labor force during the last decade. As a result of this increase in employment figures, we reached the most successful position among OECD and EU countries," she said.

Concerning female labor market participation, the head of the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TISK) Kudret Onen said: "The Turkish private sector and the Labor Ministry have been working to increase female employment. These are promising endeavours in the women’s labor force participation, of which the effects are to be observed in the near future."

About the Syria crisis, Sarieroglu said: "Demographic change, challenged quite harshly by the recent crisis in Syria, is one of the most important themes within the discussions on the 'Future of Work'. This crisis continues to impact our labor markets. Nevertheless, our historical responsibility, our neighborhood relations and our humanitarian take on this issue prompted us to have an 'open-door' policy towards Syrians."

"We take pride in being the most generous country in the world with regards to the humanitarian aid we provided particularly to the refugees in our country as well as to others all around the world. However, we expect to see the international community and notably our European friends to do more for the sake of humanity in terms of responsibility and burden-sharing," she said.

Noting the importance of putting an end to unfavorable conditions in Palestine, settling conflicts in an expeditious manner, instilling peace and the positive impact these will have on working life, she said: "As Turkey, we wholeheartedly support this position. There is a humanitarian tragedy out there in Palestine."

"Turkey believes that it is high time we said no to such humanitarian tragedies on international platforms, took constructive and concrete steps and brought on international solutions," she said.

"Despite the UN resolution calling on all states to refrain from the establishment of diplomatic missions in Jerusalem, some countries are still moving their embassies to Jerusalem. This attitude does not coincide with the desired attitude I previously explained," she added.

The vice-president of the conference Jean-Jacques Elmiger interrupted her speech on the grounds that Sarieroglu touched upon irrelevant items when she was talking about the situation in Palestine.