Honourable Minister, Esteemed Members, Distinguished Guests,

As MÜSİAD, for more than 35 years our greatest aim has been to contribute to our country's development, to keep our finger on the pulse of the business world and to work for the future of our nation. Today, seeing your esteemed self and our valued members in the same hall is a great honour and a source of happiness for us.

There is a truth we all know: a country's real capital lies not in its mines or in its lands, but in its intellectual capital. Our greatest strategic potential for Türkiye's future is undoubtedly our qualified and productive workforce.

Our greatest strategic potential for Türkiye's future is undoubtedly our qualified and productive workforce. As the business world, we are ready to make the most productive use of this potential, to mobilize it for our country's prosperity and to fulfil the responsibility that falls to us as it should be fulfilled.

However, there are issues that must be resolved for this potential to be fully realized. Today we would like to bring to your esteemed attention 8 fundamental headings brought from the field by the business world and experienced directly by our members:

  • The shortage of qualified labour felt in almost every field of the real sector,
  • The difficulties encountered in work permits for foreign workers,
  • Labour costs, insurance premiums and the tax burden levied on labour,
  • Flexible working models and the effects of digital transformation on employment,
  • The problems experienced in judicial processes and in the resolution of labour disputes,
  • The inadequacy of incentives and supports that would ease the burden on employers,
  • The unfair competition that informal employment creates for businesses that fulfil their obligations,
  • The uncertainties regarding the complementary pension system planned to be newly implemented.

As MÜSİAD, our Employment and Labour Policies Board is conducting comprehensive work on each of these headings. When our work is completed, we will submit our proposed solutions to our ministry in the form of a report, and together we will develop more effective solutions.

Honourable Minister, esteemed members, we believe that when the effort of our business world is combined with the determined steps of our State, we will cover important ground both in working life and in our economy as a whole.

I thank all our members present here today for adding value to this country with the sweat of their brow, with their labour and with their production. And I express my gratitude to your esteemed self for honouring us with your presence.

Let us not forget that every idea rising from these halls is a seed sown for our country's tomorrows. Come, let us grow these seeds together.

Respectfully yours.