'WE SUPPORTED YOUNG PEOPLE'S MARRIAGE JOURNEY'
Stating that, as the Ministry, they carry out studies in areas that touch the life of the family from birth to old age, Göktaş said that they support young people who want to establish a home with the financial support, grants and training provided through the Family and Youth Fund. Göktaş stated that services for families and young people were expanded with the contribution of 2 thousand 49 institutions, and young people's marriage journeys were supported through 284 support packages with 190 municipalities.
'WE STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY-FRIENDLY APPROACH IN WORKING LIFE'
Referring to the practices aimed at strengthening the balance between employees' work and family life, Göktaş said, "We increased the maternity leave of working mothers from 16 weeks to 24 weeks and the paternity leave to 2 weeks. We provided the opportunity for both male and female civil servants to work part-time until their children reach primary school age. We took an important step to strengthen the family-work life balance with the nursery mobilization we started in public institutions." Stating that they will disseminate the gains that protect the family and the dynamic population with long-term policies in the Family and Population Decade, which covers the period 2026-2035, Göktaş said that they aim to create a family-friendly ecosystem.
'WE SHOULD WORK SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THE BUSINESS WORLD'
Emphasizing that the business world, as well as public institutions, should assume responsibility in strengthening the family structure, Minister Göktaş called on employers. Göktaş said, "A strong family structure becomes permanent only when the public and the business world work shoulder to shoulder. I would like to make an appeal to every employer in this hall. When you open a nursery in your factory and organize working hours according to the needs of a mother, you make life easier. When you offer an opportunity to your employee who is a new father, you keep a home alive."
THANKS TO MUNICIPALITIES
Stating that Gebze Municipality provides a safe environment for the children of mothers and fathers working in shifts with Güzide 24/7 Baby and Child Care Center, Göktaş noted that the establishment of the Women and Family Services Directorate is also important in terms of family-oriented services. Stating that Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality offers services for different generations with its family-friendly city approach, Göktaş said that Gebze Technical University also contributed to this process with its academic vision.
'BEING A FAMILY FRIEND IS A MATTER IN EVERY AREA OF LIFE'
Minister Göktaş stated that businesses from different sectors, from industry to finance, from tourism to health, from education to sports, will be rewarded at the ceremony, and emphasized that the family-friendly approach concerns all sectors. Göktaş said, "Being family-friendly is not a matter of one sector, but of all areas of life. This is the picture that emerges when the public, local government, academia and the business world look at the same goal. A family-friendly city can only be established when all institutions join hands. And Kocaeli shows once again today that this can be an example for Türkiye." At the end of his speech, Göktaş drew attention to the bond between family, business and city and said, "The employee who feels the support of his family, the institution that takes care of his employee and his family, and the city that focuses on the family. When these three rings come together, an unbreakable chain is formed. The name of that chain is a strong society. We are determined to weave this chain together. Because we believe that a strong family means a strong business. A strong business means a strong economy. A strong economy and a strong family means a strong Turkey."
Minister Göktaş thanked GETİP, the institutions, governorships and municipalities that contributed to the organization of the program and congratulated the award-winning businesses.
