An analysis of women's employment legislation in Turkey regarding its compatibility with international organizations and directives of European Union

Initially, this study aimed to analyze women's rights in professional life in Turkey in EU adjustment process regarding the legislation and its compatibility with EU directives. However, the examination includes the compatibility with the other organizations that are influential on women's rights discussions, United Nations and ILO (International Labor Organization). In this respect, this study is a legislation analysis that includes 11 titles related to the compatibility with EU directives. The compatibility with CEDAW and ILO are assessed separately. The study consists of three sections. The first section includes a comprehensive analysis of the international organizations that make regulations regarding women's place in professional life. The second section demonstrates a deep analysis of the structure of EU and its directives about women. Finally, the third section makes a comparison between the directives of CEDAW, ILO and EU; and the legislation in Turkey. The research outcomes indicate that women's participation into labor force brought about many problems for them. The increase in women's participation into professional life and their struggle to gain equal rights with men triggered international initiations aiming to protect them in working life. With this purpose, many international organizations and institutions tried to persuade member states to make developments and ameliorations about women's rights in professional life through various directives and recommendations. In Turkey, the studies for equal opportunities for women and men started right after the foundation of republic in 1923. The first legal arrangement in Turkey regarding protection of women is the Public Health Law in 1930. Although there is no special statute in Turkish legislation directed to equal opportunities for women and men, there are certain provisions in the constitution and in the laws regulating the working life, protecting women and providing equal rights for women and men. The employment legislation was changed in the EU adjustment process in framework of the National Program for the Adaptation of the Acquis and the legislation was almost completely accorded with EU directives. The research outcomes also support the fact that Turkish employment legislation is highly parallel with European norms regarding the protection of female workers.