07.03.2025 Ankara

“International Women’s Day Event and Women’s Hand in Industry Project Award Ceremony” organized by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) and TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Board (TOBB KGK) was held at TOBB Twin Towers.

In his speech here, Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), stated that the rate of women entrepreneurs in Türkiye has increased from 6 percent to 12 percent in the last 20 years and said that their goal is to increase this rate to 50 percent.

Stating that TOBB KGK is appreciated not only in Türkiye but also in the world, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that KGK has always been a guide in encouraging and developing entrepreneurship.

Referring to international support for women’s entrepreneurship, Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that they obtained loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Hisarcıklıoğlu called on women entrepreneurs to benefit from this opportunity through the Credit Guarantee Fund.

Emphasizing the importance of including flexible and remote working models in employment contracts for women, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Women who are partial to part-time and remote work and who can contribute their labor and contribution are excluded from the labor market due to reasons arising from legislation. By making the necessary legislation and changes within the scope of the Year of the Family, we will enable more women to contribute to our country.”

Explaining the necessity of strengthening support mechanisms for women manufacturers, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that positive discrimination for women manufacturers in practices such as access to finance, grant and incentive programs, export supports, training and consultancy services is of great importance for women to produce value for the economy.

- Minister Işıkhan

Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan said that all women are laborers no matter in which area of social life they take part, whether at home, in the field, in business life, in the executive chair or in a position of authority.

Pointing out that women’s minds, ideas and support are needed more than ever in working life, Işıkhan said, “We attach importance to empowering women in all areas, including employment, labor market, the right to organize unions, working hours, work and family harmony, and working conditions. We continue our programs and projects, especially through İŞKUR, without slowing down in order to increase women’s employment and qualified workforce targets.”

Işıkhan stated that they launched “Work Positive” last year with the presence of Emine Erdoğan, wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in order to increase women’s participation in economic and social life and to raise social awareness, and that with this project, they mediated the placement of more than 950,000 women in jobs.

Mr. Işıkhan stated that in addition to Work Positive, they offer childcare support to women participating in the “Affirmative Action Project for Women’s Employment” (KİPAP).

Vedat Işıkhan pointed out that 556,000 of the 1.5 million citizens who attained jobs in 2024 were women, and said that this data shows how important a role women play in the development and development process with their desire and determination in working life.

Minister Işıkhan pointed out that working life is an ecosystem that needs to be built on the basis of respect, trust and fairness and said, “Psychological harassment in the workplace, mobbing, is a serious problem that threatens the mental, physical and mental health of individuals, damages work efficiency and institutional peace.”

Stating that within the scope of the principle of “zero tolerance to violence in working life”, everyone from employers to employees, from public institutions to civil society should take responsibility, Işıkhan continued as follows: “In order to make our fight against mobbing in workplaces more effective, we updated the Prime Ministry Circular No. 2011/2 and re-published it as a Presidential Circular. With our new circular, we aim to raise awareness in this field and put forward a stronger will to prevent victimization.”

- “Tens of thousands of women were employed with the Women’s Hand in Industry Project”

TOBB KGK President Nurten Öztürk stated that women are the foundation of sustainable development in the economy and social life and that the economy can develop with women’s participation in all areas of life.

Öztürk said, “Producing projects that will reveal the potential of women, provide them with equal opportunities and increase their competencies will be one of the keys to our economic growth.”

Stating that they have developed successive projects such as “Women’s Hand in Industry”, “Women’s Hand in Agriculture” and “Women’s Hand in Technology”, Öztürk said that the Women’s Hand in Industry Project is actively carried out in 32 provinces and that tens of thousands of women are employed through this project.

At the event, awards were presented to 13 TOBB KGK provincial presidents who opened courses within the scope of the Women’s Hand in Industry Project, provided on-the-job training, and contributed to the implementation of the project that provided the highest number of women employment.