Evaluation of the relationship of informal employment and social protection in the labor markets of Turkey and selected European countries

The neoliberal policies that emerged towards the end of the 1970s have had an impact in the social, economic and legal fields around the world after the 1980s. With the liberalization of international trade and flexibility, which is the result of neoliberal policies, companies with increasing competitive pressure tend to reduce costs. Many factors such as increasing competition, flexibility application and changes in production methods due to technological developments and the easy displacement of production factors in the international arena also affect the structure of the workforce. Employees who are unskilled and negatively affected by changes in the way of production are excluded from formal employment. In our study, by trying to understand the concepts of informal employment and social protection, the relationship between them in the workforce is questioned. The dimensions of informal employment and social protection in selected European Union countries and Turkey are also examined.