Turkey: Industrial relations

Original and updating authors: Batuhan Sahmay and Özlem Özdemir

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Summary

• Workers have a right to form and join trade unions, and statutory rules govern matters such as trade unions' activities and internal affairs, workplace union representatives, and protection from discrimination on trade union grounds. (See Trade unions)
• Only authorised trade unions that meet certain membership criteria may conclude a collective agreement with an employer, and collective bargaining and agreements are subject to various statutory rules. (See Collective bargaining and agreements)
• Employers are under no statutory obligation to inform and/or consult employees or employee representatives about general business or employment matters. (See Informing and consulting employees - general)
• In the event of planned collective redundancies, employers have various information and consultation obligations in relation to the public employment authorities and, where a trade union is recognised as competent to conclude a collective agreement for the establishment concerned, in relation to the union's workplace representatives. (See Informing and consulting prior to redundancies)
• There is no statutory obligation on employers to inform and/or consult employees or trade union or other representatives prior to business transfers. (See Informing and consulting prior to transfers)
• Strikes are lawful only in disputes arising from collective bargaining, and the calling and conduct of strikes are subject to various statutory rules. (See Industrial action)