Vedat Bilgin, Minister of Labor and Social Security, attended the ceremony held for the White Flag Awards given to unionized businesses by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Bilgin noted that the most important condition for the productivity of labor is social peace and said, “One of the factors that ensure this is the functionality of the collective bargaining mechanism. Collective bargaining is the most important institution of democratic systems and Turkey has been experiencing this for many years. We are a country that successfully implements this, except during antidemocratic periods, and we are determined to continue it.”
Stating that they have had the ideal of implementing the White Flag application with the workers and employers for many years, Bilgin said, “This is something we have been talking about for more than 10 years. It was our privilege to implement this. White Flag says 'good job'. The employer says, 'I am doing my job properly'. This claim is extremely important and valuable. I want all businesses to uphold this claim. As the ministry, we want to continue on our way with decent businesses," he said.
“Our Organized Enterprises Will Benefit From İŞKUR Projects First”
Stating that businesses that meet certain conditions will be awarded the White Flag and that certain benefits will be provided to these businesses, Bilgin continued as follows:
“The White Flag application is an application that will contribute to union organization. We will make serious contributions to our organized businesses. They will primarily benefit from İŞKUR projects. Beyaz has been involved in both the production process participation project and the on-the-job training project. Bayraklı businesses will benefit first. Apart from this, our exporting companies will be one step ahead in overcoming all the procedures in the export process. The certificate we will issue with the White Flag will put them one step ahead in government transactions. More importantly, we will give an additional 1 point to the social security support premium. If our workers are organized, if the collective bargaining mechanism works in that workplace, if our businesses are doing their job properly, we stand by them. The Turkish state is a social state. It is the duty of the Minister of Labor of the social state to defend the law of the workers and to defend the law of businesses that do business properly. With this sense of duty, I believe that the implementation of the White Flag will contribute to our state, nation, workplaces and working life.”
Regarding the Public Collective Bargaining Agreement Framework Protocol, which will determine the financial and social rights of more than 700 thousand public workers, Minister Bilgin said, “We will discuss it once again with TÜRK-İŞ and HAK-İŞ on Friday. We are already close to a compromise. We will put this into a solution, too.”
“Results Come When There Is Tripartite Reconciliation”
Ozgur Burak Akkol, Chairman of the Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions (TISK), stated that the White Flag application, which they have been advocating and recommending for many years as employers, was implemented with the common mind and consensus of the workers, employers and the public, and said, "There are already results when there is a tripartite agreement."
Stating that they are against the discrimination of workers, employers and the public, Akkol stated that they act together on many issues as the tripartite triangular pillars that make up the working life at the Joint Sharing Forum traditionally organized by TİSK.
“White Flag Application Has Been Implemented Today With The Understanding That Employers Should Also Be Rewarded”
Reminding that at the Joint Sharing Forum, the employers' and workers' sides agreed on the sustainability of working life, the visibility of good examples and their support by the state, the protection of competitiveness and the fight against unregistered employment, Akkol said:
“The White Flag application was put into practice today with the understanding that not only punishment but also the right employers should be rewarded. I would like to underline the four key elements of an exemplary business for society. The first of these is to be an exemplary business with a clean record, to fulfill social security obligations completely and on time. Secondly, to be a business that pays its taxes fully and on time. Third, to support organization. Fourth, touching our colleagues, especially occupational health and safety. These are the sine qua non of the TİSK ecosystem. These are the promises we make to ourselves, then to our colleagues and to our country. It will be a separate driving force for us that these principles are valued by our state as well.”
White Flag Application
The White Flag bears the slogan “A Properly Organized Workplace” and the logo of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. Businesses must meet certain conditions in order to receive the White Flag Award. These conditions are; registered employment, not applying administrative fines, having a collective bargaining agreement, having 50 or more employees, not owed premiums to the Social Security Institution, fulfilling the occupational health and safety conditions, and not experiencing a work accident in the enterprise.
After the speeches, Bilgin, Chairman of the Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions Özgür Burak Akkol and Chairman of TÜRK-İŞ Ergün Atalay presented their certificates to the representatives of the enterprises that won the White Flag Awards.
Awards, Ford Automotive, Tat Gıda, Kordsa Teknik Tekstil, Alarko Carrier, Turkey Bottle and Glass, NG Kütahya Seramik Porselen Turizm AŞ, Socar Turkey, Siemens, Bosch, Kale Radiator, Istikbal Furniture, Tetra Pak Packaging, Borusan Mannesmann Pipe, Pınar Süt , TÜPRAŞ, Vakko, Kolin İnşaat, Sanko Tekstil, Sarkuysan Elektrolitik and Oyak Cement.