STUDYING INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN LABOR ADAPTATION: RESULTS OF A SCIENTIFIC TRIP WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE GF PROJECT

As part of the GF project “Integration of Persons with Disabilities into the Labor Market: Development of a Comprehensive Labor Adaptation Program”, the working group represented by Professor Z.K. Smagulova and Associate Professor S.T. Okutayeva visited the Department of Services for People with Disabilities of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (Turkey).

In Turkey, the state body officially responsible for the employment of people with disabilities is the Labor Agency under the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. The agency is responsible for registering candidates, matching them with vacancies, directing them to employment, providing job coaching, support, quota control, and monitoring employment outcomes. The employment process includes submitting an application, professional counseling, company analysis, field visits by specialists, collecting information on employers’ needs, preparing résumés with the involvement of psychologists, opening necessary vocational training courses, and organizing interviews when a suitable vacancy is available. After employment, İŞKUR conducts monitoring and implements activities aimed at raising awareness among employers and employees. Companies receive disability awareness seminars, which foster an inclusive work environment and improve communication within teams. Particular attention is paid to psychological, professional, and social support, which helps reduce stress and facilitates the employment process.

According to the İŞKUR report “Labor Market Study - Istanbul Province”, out of 31,828 enterprises, 10,758 employ people with disabilities, while employer bias remains a significant barrier to employment. Based on the Annual Report of the Istanbul Provincial Employment and Vocational Training Committee, in 2024, a total of 9,887 people with disabilities were employed, including 2,372 women and 7,515 men. The national data system registers 2,511,950 people with disabilities: 1,414,643 men and 1,097,307 women. These figures highlight the scale of the challenge and the importance of strengthening mechanisms for supporting and adapting people with disabilities in the labor market.

The experience gained during the trip and the study of İŞKUR’s activities in Istanbul demonstrates the importance of a systematic and comprehensive approach to supporting people with disabilities on their path to employment. The Turkish model shows that sustainable results are achieved only when state institutions have clearly defined responsibilities and employment processes are structured sequentially-from initial registration and professional assessment to training, job matching, job coaching, and continuous monitoring. Particularly valuable was the understanding of the role of interdisciplinary collaboration: psychologists, sociologists, employment specialists, and employers create an integrated support system that reduces barriers and increases the chances of successful professional integration for people with disabilities.

An important conclusion is that even with a developed institutional framework, social attitudes and employers’ prejudices remain a key obstacle. Therefore, activities such as awareness seminars and efforts to improve corporate culture are essential parts of the overall process. İŞKUR’s statistical data confirm the effectiveness of a systematic approach and emphasize the need to continue strengthening opportunities and increasing inclusivity in the labor market. This experience has become a significant example for adapting best practices within our project and has helped deepen our understanding of which mechanisms can be most effective in developing a comprehensive labor adaptation program for people with disabilities.