This week, Ashgabat became the center of intensive dialogue with the International Labor Organization (ILO). A visit by ILO Regional Director Pieter van Rooij confirmed that the country's cooperation with this UN agency is moving from isolated projects to systemic modernization of the labor sector.

A series of meetings began in the Mejlis, where Parliament Speaker Dunyagozel Gulmanova discussed updating the country's legal framework with Pieter van Rooij. Turkmenistan is currently actively implementing international labor safety and human rights standards into national legislation.

The parties acknowledged the successful implementation of the 2024–2025 Roadmap. This means that the foundation has been laid, and the focus now shifts to the 2026 plans, which prioritize child protection and social welfare.

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the dialogue continued at the level of Deputy Minister Myahri Byashimova. Here, the emphasis was on "institutional presence"—Ashgabat and the ILO strive to make their interaction as permanent and transparent as possible.

Turkmenistan confirmed its participation in the next session of the International Labor Conference, which will be held in Geneva in June. This underscores the country's readiness not only to implement best practices but also to participate in shaping the global labor agenda.

The visit culminated in a roundtable discussion bringing together diplomats, parliamentarians, representatives of ministries, and social partners. Myahri Byashimova clearly outlined the government's position: interaction with the ILO is, first and foremost, a tool for improving the standard of living of every citizen.

What was discussed in practice: promoting the principles of "decent work"; improving legislation based on best practices; and implementing joint employment programs.

The main link between all three meetings was the preparation of a new Roadmap for 2026. Turkmenistan demonstrates a systematic approach: reports on ILO conventions are submitted regularly, and the organization's recommendations are systematically translated into legislation.

As Peter van Rooij noted, the ILO highly values the country's reform momentum. For Turkmenistan, this partnership guarantees that the national labor market will develop in harmony with the highest international standards.