The gender equality in working life in European Union law and Turkish Law

One of the main purposes of European Union Law is to provide equal opportunities for men and women and to ensure equality between men and women in the working life. The EU and its legal system through its legislation relating to the protection of women in working life and to the implementation of equality between men and women have affected on member States? legislation since 1970?s. The Lisbon Strategy aiming the implementation of gender equality in working life has a significant role as far as the concept of women?s rights is taken into account. In 2006, the EU adopted the road map in ensuring equality between men and women for the period from 2006 to 2010.As a candidate State to the EU membership, Turkey has been working on the implementation of equality between men and women in working life, too. To do so, Turkey has been either introducing new law or modifying its legal rules on gender equality.The aim of this study is to examine the EU Law and Turkish Law relating to the gender equality in the working life.