Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan, while answering the questions of the MPs at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Planning and Budget Commission, said regarding the use of the Unemployment Insurance Fund: "The Unemployment Insurance Fund does not have any transactions with the fund management companies in question. We do not have even a penny transferred to any fund." Stating that the fund sources are evaluated in State Domestic Debt Securities, public deposit and participation banks and Takasbank, Işıkhan said that the fund is regularly audited by the Court of Accounts and independent auditing institutions.
The 2027 budget, final accounts and Court of Accounts reports of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and affiliated institutions and organizations were discussed in the GNAT Plan and Budget Commission, which convened under the chairmanship of AKP Samsun Deputy and Commission Chairman Mehmet Muş. After the meetings, Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan answered the questions of the MPs.
"WE DO NOT HAVE ONE PENNY TRANSFERRED TO ANY FUND"
Answering the questions of the MPs about where the resources of the Unemployment Insurance Fund are used, who benefits from the fund and whether resources are transferred to controversial funds, Işıkhan stated that the Unemployment Insurance Fund is used in services for insured unemployed people who lost their jobs without their own will and fault within the scope of Law No. 4447.
Işıkhan stated that the fund provides services related to unemployment benefits, continuity of health insurance, finding a new job, career development, acquisition and training training, wage guarantee and short-time work payments.
Arguing that the Unemployment Insurance Fund has no connection with the liquidated funds, Işıkhan said that the fund sources were evaluated in accordance with the provisions of the Public Treasury Regulation. Işıkhan stated that the resources are used in State Domestic Debt Securities, public deposit banks, public participation banks and Takasbank, and said, "It is not legally or technically possible to utilize the fund resources in any other field other than these instruments or to use them in speculative transactions."
Giving information about the transactions made through Takasbank, Işıkhan noted that the authorization for the Unemployment Insurance Fund to carry out transactions at Takasbank was given with the regulation amendment made on January 19, 2022, and loans started to be given through Takasbank after this date with the fund resources. Stating that Takasbank interest rates are compared with deposit interest rates on every transaction day, Işıkhan said that if Takasbank interest rates are advantageous, the lending transaction is carried out.
Explaining the application with an example of a bank deposit, Işıkhan said, "Just like when you deposit a deposit in a bank, you do not know to whom that deposit is given as a loan, Takasbank is the same for us."
Stating that the banking transactions in the Unemployment Fund are carried out by Halkbank and that Halk Yatırım acts as the intermediary institution in Takasbank transactions, Işıkhan said that due to the functioning of Takasbank, buyers and sellers cannot see each other and that every transaction made is under the guarantee of Takasbank.
Stating that the fund is regularly audited by both the Court of Accounts and independent auditing institutions, Işıkhan stated that the audit results, financial transaction tables and information on the use of resources are shared with the public.
Işıkhan said, "The Unemployment Insurance Fund is the sweat of our workers, it is the right of our workers. And we have not and will not allow anyone to pay even one penny of our workers' rights. We openly ask, 'Is the Unemployment Insurance stuck in the funds?' I was asked, and I answer clearly; "We do not have even a penny transferred to any fund," he said.
472.3 BILLION RESOURCES FOR YOUTH PROGRAM
Answering the MPs' questions about the education-employment relationship and the programs carried out by the Ministry with the Council of Higher Education, Işıkhan said that the Ministry of National Education, YÖK and universities are important stakeholder institutions of the Ministry.
Stating that young people are supported in the process from vocational training to first job with the Youth Production Age program, which was implemented this year and allocated a total of 472.3 billion liras, Işıkhan noted that more than 3 million young people are aimed to benefit from the program in three years.
Işıkhan stated that income support as well as theoretical and practical training was provided to more than 218 thousand students in 127 public universities within the scope of İŞKUR Youth Program, and that 144 thousand students were offered internship opportunities within the scope of the National Internship Program.
Stating that more than 192 thousand vocational high school and vocational school senior students were provided with one-on-one consultancy services with the Future of Vocational Practice program, Işıkhan said that students' transition from education to working life was supported.
Işıkhan stated that through İŞKUR's Advisor Information System, students can compare their career and department preferences based on indicators such as the time it takes for graduates to find a job, their employment continuity, wage distribution and the sectors in which they work intensively, and noted that the system is integrated into İŞKUR Mobile and e-Branch applications.
Stating that students are provided with job and career counseling services before graduation through İŞKUR campuses in universities, Işıkhan stated that students' job search skills are also improved in job clubs.
Stating that approximately 350 thousand young people were brought together with employers and relevant stakeholders in the Youth Production Age Regional Career Fairs organized in 12 provinces in seven regions in 2026 in cooperation with İŞKUR and universities, Işıkhan said that the fairs are aimed to be held in 10 provinces in the new period. Işıkhan stated that the first fair will be held on 11-12 November 2026.
"WE HAVE DETECTED THE PARTICIPATION OF MORE THAN 2.7 MILLION WOMEN IN REGISTERED EMPLOYMENT"
Making evaluations regarding women's employment, Işıkhan said that they continue policies to increase women's participation and employment in working life.
Stating that the female labor force participation rate increased by 13.9 points from 21.3 percent to 35.2 percent in the 2005-2026 September period, and the female employment rate increased by 11.8 points from 19.4 percent to 31.2 percent, Işıkhan stated that the female workforce increased from 5.3 million to 12 million.
Reminding that İŞKUR implemented the İş Pozitif program in 2024, Işıkhan said, "To date, we have determined the registered participation of more than 2.7 million women in employment."
Stating that they have implemented the Positive Discrimination for Women's Employment and Women in All Professions projects, Işıkhan said that women employed within the scope of the Positive Discrimination for Women's Employment Project are provided with care support for three months, up to 32 thousand 500 liras per month, and for women with children up to 5.5 years old, six months of care support is provided with 10 thousand liras per month.
Noting that 13 thousand 733 women benefited from the project as of September 2026 and care support was paid for 1,514 children, Işıkhan stated that more than 10 million citizens benefited from İŞKUR's job placement activities, active workforce programs, vocational training courses and on-the-job training programs during their rule.
Stating that a total of 367.5 million lira has been paid to more than 49 thousand people since 2016 within the scope of the part-time work allowance that supports the return to working life after birth, Işıkhan said that employer insurance premium shares are covered from the Unemployment Insurance Fund within the scope of incentives for the employment of women, young people and those with vocational qualification certificates.
11 THOUSAND 39 LABOR INSPECTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT IN 2026
Providing information about inspections for work accidents and occupational diseases, Işıkhan stated that the Ministry carries out its labor inspection activities in line with the objectives of protecting the rights of employees, improving occupational health and safety conditions and making permanent compliance with the legislation in working life.
Explaining that a total of 11 thousand 39 inspections were carried out in 2026, 4 thousand 179 in terms of work execution and 6 thousand 860 in terms of occupational health and safety, Işıkhan said that it was decided to stop the work in 190 workplaces due to life-threatening detection.
Stating that administrative fines of approximately 800 million lira were imposed on 3,274 workplaces in the said period, Işıkhan stated that workers were made to pay their individual receivables amounting to approximately 890 million lira, and public receivables amounting to 338 million lira were collected. Işıkhan noted that the number of workplaces inspected is aimed to reach 18 thousand by the end of the year.
Giving information about the inspections carried out in mining workplaces, Işıkhan said that a total of 665 mining workplaces were inspected in 61 provinces in 2026. Işıkhan stated that underground mining activities were carried out in 147 of these workplaces and surface mining activities were carried out in 518 of them, and that an administrative fine of 129 million lira was imposed as a result of the inspections.
Noting that the number of underground mining workplaces where the decision to stop work was made was seven and the number of above-ground mining workplaces was 36, Işıkhan said that preventing work accidents and occupational diseases is not possible only with inspection, and that the state, employer and worker must act together.
STUDIES FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS
Responding to DEM Party deputy Halide Türkoğlu's assessments regarding the situation of domestic workers and migrant domestic workers, Işıkhan stated that they held meetings with union and confederation representatives within the scope of social dialogue to improve the rights and working conditions of domestic workers.
Stating that the first meeting with the representatives of unions and confederations involved in organizing activities of domestic workers was held in May 2024, Işıkhan said that the topics of social security, informality, organization, occupational health and safety were evaluated at the consultation meeting held at the Ministry on 27 May 2025. He noted that they also attended the domestic labor panel and workshop held in Antalya in January 2026.
Stating that a training, research and cooperation protocol was signed between ÇASGEM and Hak-İş on March 11, 2026 in order to improve the educational infrastructure of domestic work, Işıkhan stated that the work to prepare the national occupational standard and national qualification for the assistant profession in domestic work continues.
Stating that those who work 10 days or more a month in domestic services are insured within the scope of 4/a, and that work accident and occupational disease insurance premiums are paid for those who work less than 10 days, Işıkhan said that women insured women can make maternity debt for a total of up to six years for a maximum of three children born after the start of insurance.
Regarding the situation of immigrant domestic worker women, Işıkhan stated that the foreign workforce is considered as a complementary element and noted that the foreigners identified in the domestic services and livestock sectors were registered in the 2025-2026 period.
CANCER DRUGS ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF REIMBURSEMENT
Answering the questions of the MPs regarding the reimbursement of continuous glucose monitoring sensors and cancer drugs, Işıkhan stated that the continuous glucose monitoring sensor used in patients diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes under the age of 18 was included in the reimbursement list on December 12, 2024. Stating that 3 thousand 850 liras were paid monthly for the device, Işıkhan said that as of October 26, 2026, 30 thousand 221 children benefited from this device.
Regarding cancer drugs, Işıkhan stated that as of the same date, a total of 8,845 drugs, 8,425 of which were domestic and 420 were imported, were included in the scope of reimbursement, and that there were a total of 925 cancer drugs in the reimbursement lists, including those procured from abroad for personal treatment and those licensed in Türkiye.
Noting that five different immunotherapy drugs were included in the scope of reimbursement for 25 different cancer indications as of July 2025, Işıkhan reported that the treatment of approximately 41 thousand cancer patients was provided with immunotherapy drugs in the last year.
