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Somalia and Türkiye have formally begun implementing a long-standing labour cooperation agreement aimed at deepening collaboration on employment, labour, and social policy, officials said.
Ministers from both countries met in Ankara on Tuesday to revitalise a 2016 memorandum of understanding between Somalia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and Türkiye’s Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
The launch represents Somalia’s first major labour partnership with Türkiye in recent years. Türkiye’s Labour Minister, Vedat Işıkhan, and Somalia’s Labour Minister, Salim Alio Ibro, led the talks, which were attended by Somalia’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Fathudin Ali Mohamed Ospite, and senior officials from both governments.
Işıkhan described the bilateral relationship as having grown stronger over the years and said it now had a strategic dimension. He told officials that both sides intended for the cooperation to produce tangible, practical results.
Tuesday’s meeting served as the inaugural session of a joint working commission established to oversee collaboration between the two ministries. During the session, the ministers signed a joint protocol and a two-year action plan covering 2026-2027, which identifies 15 priority areas for joint work.
Officials said the action plan focuses on job creation, vocational training, workplace safety, labour inspections, and improvements to social services. It also outlines collaboration on labour migration management and the development of national job standards.
Somalia’s Labour Minister, Salim Alio Ibro, said the agreement would strengthen the country’s labour institutions and improve services for workers, while also allowing Somalia to benefit from Türkiye’s technical expertise and experience.
Both sides indicated that implementation would follow a clear timetable, with regular technical meetings and expert exchanges to monitor progress.
Officials noted that Somalia is pursuing closer labour and social affairs ties with Türkiye as part of a broader strategy to improve institutions, create jobs, enhance social services, and acquire technical expertise from one of its key international partners.
Türkiye and Somalia have also strengthened cooperation in recent years across security, development, trade, and education, with Ankara being a central partner in Somalia’s national rebuilding efforts.
