Ulas Yildiz

Ulaş Yıldız is a senior labour relations expert and legal professional with extensive experience in social dialogue, collective bargaining, labour law, and international labour standards. He most recently served as Secretary-General of the Turkish Chemical, Petroleum, Rubber and Plastics Industry Employers’ Association (KİPLAS), the largest employers’ organisation in Türkiye representing the chemical and related industries in employment, labour, and social affairs.

During his tenure Mr. Yıldız played a central leadership role in shaping employers’ policy positions at both national and international levels. He oversaw a broad portfolio covering collective bargaining processes, employment policies, vocational education and training (VET), sustainability, occupational health and safety, and international relations, working closely with government institutions, trade unions, and global partners.

At the national level, Mr. Yıldız actively contributed to Türkiye’s most prominent tripartite and social dialogue mechanisms, including the Joint Consultative Tripartite Committee, Labour Assembly, High Board of Arbitration, Turkish Occupational Health and Safety Council, and the Minimum Wage Council, providing expert input on labour market regulation, industrial relations, and dispute resolution.

Since 2010, he has been deeply engaged in the international employers’ community, contributing to the work of leading organisations such as the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), International Labour Organization (ILO), B20, and BusinessEurope. In recognition of his expertise and leadership, he was elected as a member of the Governing Body of the ILO in 2017, where he worked closely with several departments and programmes, including ACT/EMP, International Labour Standards, SAFEWORK, and IPEC.

Ulaş Yıldız has participated in UNFCCC and COP meetings representing employers and business NGOs in the field of climate change, and has also been involved in project work in the areas of just transition and sustainability.

Within the ILO framework, Mr. Yıldız represented the Employers’ Group in high-level tripartite missions, including an international mission to Kazakhstan, and was appointed to the Standards Review Mechanism Working Group, contributing to discussions on the effectiveness and coherence of international labour standards.

Ulaş Yıldız has also held important responsibilities within the OECD at the international level and, as of December 2024, was appointed Vice Chair of the Employment, Labour and Social Affairs Committee of Business at OECD.

He is a graduate of Ankara University Faculty of Law and a member of the Ankara Bar Association. Throughout his career, he has authored and contributed to numerous publications on labour law, international labour standards, occupational health and safety, industrial relations, and environmental sustainability.

Before his consultancy activities, Mr. Yıldız held professional roles at KİPLAS, TİSK and Sabancı Holding, gaining valuable experience in employer representation and corporate labour relations.

Current Role

He is providing consultancy for International Organization of Employers (IOE) for COP31 process on policymaking and advocacy functions in relation with sustainability, just transition and climate change negotiations.