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Legal Framework and Scope of Social Dialogue at Workplace Level in Turkey

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Social Dialogue and Democracy in the Workplace

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Abstract

Before analysing the social dialogue at the workplace level in Turkey, it is necessary to observe the position of social dialogue at the workplace level within the structure of Turkish labour relations. Within working life, because there are social dialogue practices on various platforms, so the structure of the system should be examined from a holistic perspective. For this purpose, in this chapter, a figure indicating the social dialogue mechanisms in Turkey has been provided. When examining Fig. 5.1, it can be seen that there are several structures that were established based on bilateral or tripartite participation principles to ensure social dialogue in working life. However, these structures are very intermingled and include only unionized workers or unionized officials amongst the registered employees. This figure does not represent the Turkish working life completely. Therefore, it is necessary to reveal reasons behind the low level of existing social dialogue in Turkey, which was identified in the EU and ILO documents, although such a wide organization has been established. Importantly, employees who cannot take part in the organization’s representation come under the umbrella of the existing social dialogue system via bilateral social dialogue.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    One of the organizations established in this period was Anadolu - Bağdat Demiryolları Memurin ve Müstahdemin Cemiyet-i Uhuvvetkarisi [Anatolia-Baghdad Railways Officers and Employees Association]. Various other organizations were also created in İstanbul, Thessaloniki, İzmir, Zonguldak, Drama, Kavala, Xanthi, Komotini and Gevgeli (Koç 2003: 41).

  2. 2.

    The Mecelle was the civil code of the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mecelle. Accessed on 06.11.2017.

  3. 3.

    For a comprehensive study on this subject, see: Abendroth (1992).

  4. 4.

    With Law No. 6289 dated 04.04.2012, civil servants were given the right to conduct collective interviews, whereas the Law No. 6289 for the amendment of the Law on Public Officials’ Trade Unions was established in the Official Gazette dated 11.04.2012.

  5. 5.

    Some of the trade unions arrange a private complementary health insurance for the members and their families since 2016, such as Tez Koop-İş Trade Union which is a member in Türk-İş Confederation.

  6. 6.

    Article 77 of Law No. 4857 is repealed by Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331, relevant regulation that has been revised according to Law No. 6331.

  7. 7.

    For detailed information on this board, see: Cam (2012).

  8. 8.

    In this regard, Makal stated many examples related to previous years. ‘In a unilateral employment dispute that 215 workers in Adana had opened, it is expressed in the statement made by the trade union that workers’ representatives held discussions at the employer’s side and made a counter propaganda. (İşçi Sesi, [Worker’s Voice] 20.07.1949)’ (Makal 2003: 286). For detailed information and case studies on this matter, see the footnotes in Makal (2003: 34–35).

  9. 9.

    See also; Makal (2003: 287), footnotes 30, 31 and 32.

  10. 10.

    Regulation on Workplace Health and Safety Units and Joint Health and Safety Units, Official Gazette Date: 15/08/2009, Official Gazette Issue: 27320.

  11. 11.

    Hundreds of collective labour agreements signed since 1994 can be shown as examples of collective labour contracts established by this board, including CLA, which covers the period between 01.03.2006 and 28.02.2009 between Genel-İş Union and Seyhan Municipality; CLA signed with Samandağ Municipality and covering the period of 01.01.2007–31.12.2008; CLA signed with Çankaya Municipality and covering the period of 15.02.2008–14.02.2010; CLA signed with the Buca Municipality and covering the period of 01.03.2008–28.02.2010; CLA signed with the Urla Municipality and covering the period of 01.03.2008–28.02.2010; and CLA signed with İzmir Konak Municipality KON-BEL and covering the period of 01.03.2008–28.02.2010.

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    Erdem Cam

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Cam, E. (2019). Legal Framework and Scope of Social Dialogue at Workplace Level in Turkey. In: Social Dialogue and Democracy in the Workplace. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8482-9_5

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