Minister Işıkhan announces up to 50% higher stipends for future jobs

Minister of Labour and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan announced at the meeting introducing the National Just Transition Strategy and Action Plan in Mardin that, starting in 2027, stipends paid to participants receiving training in green and digital transformation, artificial intelligence and future jobs, as well as vocational high school graduates employed in their fields, will increase by up to 50%.

Minister of Labour and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan announced a new support measure for young people at the meeting in Mardin introducing the National Just Transition Strategy and Action Plan. Işıkhan said that, starting in 2027, stipends paid under active labour market programmes to participants receiving training in fields related to green and digital transformation, artificial intelligence and future jobs, as well as vocational high school graduates entering employment in their fields, will increase by up to 50%.

Işıkhan recalled that stipends had previously been increased by 30% for vocational high school graduates working in the fields they studied when they participated in On-the-Job Training Programmes. He said the new regulation aims both to prepare young people for the jobs of the future and to strengthen the skilled workforce.

A view from the meeting introducing the National Just Transition Strategy and Action Plan

“People are at the centre of the transition”

Işıkhan said climate change, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and new production technologies were reshaping every area, from the economy to labour markets, and stressed that the central question was where workers, young people and businesses would stand in this transformation. “The National Just Transition Strategy is a comprehensive response to these questions, shaped by Türkiye’s own conditions, priorities and development goals. In our understanding, people are at the centre of the transition,” Işıkhan said.

Işıkhan said the strategy had been prepared with contributions from public institutions, workers’ and employers’ organisations, academics, the private sector and international stakeholders. “Today, we are sharing a common vision for the future that reflects Türkiye’s value for labour, production and people in a changing world. I find it highly meaningful that this vision is being conveyed to the world from Mardin, the city of labour and civilisation,” he said.

Gürlek: Our doors are wide open

Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek said the government had expanded trade union rights, granted public servants the right to collective bargaining and introduced significant regulations on occupational health and safety. “Regardless of the reason, we will never consent to the rights of workers and our worker brothers and sisters being violated,” Gürlek said, stressing that the ministry’s doors were wide open to workers and labourers and the organisations representing them.

The meeting also attracted international participation, with Lebanese Labour Minister Mohammad Haidar delivering a speech in English. Poland’s Ambassador to Ankara Maciej Przemyslaw Lang, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Ankara Naryman Dzhelialov, TÜRK-İŞ Chairman Ergün Atalay, Memur-Sen Chairman Ali Yalçın, HAK-İŞ Chairman Mahmut Arslan and Türkiye Kamu-Sen Chairman Önder Kahveci also attended the event. The meeting addressed the action plan’s objectives and priority areas, while the Mardin Choir of Languages and Religions performed songs in four languages.

Photos: Anadolu Agency

Have a story, event or announcement of your own?Send us your news on WhatsApp

Spotted an error in this story?Report it on WhatsApp

Share on all social platforms

Minister Işıkhan announces up to 50% higher stipends for future jobs