How is the 'European BRIC' faring? social policy, the labour market and industrial relations in Turkey

Abstract

Examining Turkey 's legacy with regard to its social policy structures , the labour market and industrial relations , this article analyses contemporary reforms and assesses their significance from a comparative point of view . It argues that the country has achieved rapid progress in recent years , not least due to EU pressures and its own, reform- minded politics . However, the very low levels of female employment and public social policy expenditure, as well as noticeable deficiencies in trade union rights, indicate that Turkey has some distance to cover before aligning its standards fully with those established in EU states (social protection expenditure) or demanded by the EU acquis (trade union rights).