The analysis of part-time work in service sector in Turkey

The employer/employee relationship in the industrialized countries of Western Europe has changed significantly in the past 20 years under the combined influence of international competition, technological innovation- i.e. the impact of flexible production systems - new approaches to the organization of production and personnel management, and the evolving needs and aspirations of workers. This metamorphosis has taken place against the backdrop of the debate on labour market flexibilitiy, which has called into question the model of the "standard" or "traditional" employment relationship enshrined in the labour legislation of most European countries. In recent years, standard employment relationship has been blamed for rigidities that make it more difficult for enterprises to adapt to a changing and competitive economic environment, and an alternative model has emerged which is based on so-called "flexible" forms of employment. Part-time work as a form of flexible employment relationship has extended widely especially in service sector and women has become the major contributors of part-time work all over the world. Beyond the fact that Turkish labor market structure has in a way, different characteristics among her western counterparts; part-time work has also emerged a newly open area in service sector in Turkey. In this study, the spectrum of part-time work practise and the trend of this process has been investigated by a case study which is based on the results of the survey of 3 big firms in service sector.