Türkiye, Somalia sign joint labor commission protocol, 2026–27 action plan

Deal aims to strengthen cooperation in labor inspections, migration management, and vocational training

Türkiye and Somalia on Tuesday signed the “Türkiye-Somalia Joint Labor Commission First Meeting Protocol and the 2026–2027 Action Plan,” formally bringing the agreement into force, according to a ministry statement. The first meeting of the Türkiye-Somalia Joint Labor Commission was held in the Turkish capital, Ankara. Turkish Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Isikhan met with Somali Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Salim Alio Ibro and his delegation on the occasion of the meeting. Isikhan said the protocol and action plan envisage comprehensive and sustainable cooperation in key areas including labor inspections, occupational health and safety, effective management of labor migration, vocational training, and the development of national occupational standards. Following a bilateral meeting with Ibro, Isikhan chaired a delegation-level meeting with his counterpart. Speaking at the meeting, the Turkish minister expressed satisfaction with the continued strengthening and expansion of Türkiye-Somalia relations across all fields, noting that bilateral ties have gained a strategic dimension over the years. Voicing hope for a productive and results-oriented cooperation period, Isikhan said: “As a ministry, we attach great importance to sharing our experience with the Somali side in matters within our mandate, and we aim to strengthen our cooperation in these areas.” He added that the 2026–2027 action plan will elevate existing cooperation to a more advanced level, expand its scope, and provide a solid and sustainable legal basis for the exchange of information, documents, and experts between the two ministries.