Flexibility in Turkish labor law and its effect on job security

The change in economic policies and the development in technology that occurred with globalization after 1980 were also reflected in the labor markets. In this context, the perspective and practice of job security has also changed. While there was a standard form of employment within the understanding of stability and order before 1980, flexible forms of employment came to the fore with globalization. In this context, it has been argued that adapting to rapidly changing demands and conditions requires flexibility, and job security has been made flexible by moving away from a rigid job security approach. Job security is an important factor for workers to maintain their jobs and ensure stability for many years to come. However, in recent years, changing conditions and technological developments have questioned the traditional understanding of job security and necessitated the flexibility of job security. This transformation allows workers and employers to agree on a wider range of working arrangements and contract types, while also helping them better adapt to the uncertainties of the business world. However, the flexibility of job security can create new opportunities and challenges for both workers, employers and unions. Therefore, the flexibility of job security has become one of the central debates in the modern business world. This study examines what flexible job security means and its potential consequences on the parties of the labor market. This study argues that there is an inherent contradiction between flexibility and job security, but that this contradiction can be reconciled through the balancing mechanisms of the flexibility strategy. Another claim of the thesis is that although the flexibility of job security has positive and negative aspects for the parties, it is necessary to adapt to changing conditions. The study suggests making job security flexible as a solution to the dilemma of flexibility and job security, which is also quite evident in Turkey. However, for a successful implementation, political priorities such as structural limitations, the creation of an institutional infrastructure that provides employment and income security instead of job security, and the improvement of the collective bargaining system must be overcome. Keywords: Labor Law, Job Security, Flexibility