TRANSPOSING THE EU GENDER EQUALITY NORMS INTO THE TURKISH LABOUR LAW: WHERE DO WE STAND?

Öz

“Gender equality” emerging under the principle of equal treatment and non-discrimination in the European Community (EC) law, currently, is one of the European Union's (EU) objectives to guarantee equal opportunities and equal treatment for men and women. The EU policies on gender witnessed a long history dating back to the introduction of provisions with regard to equal opportunities policies in the founding treaties towards the acceptance of a recently and commonly agreed approach of “gender mainstreaming”. This corresponds to a process of which the initial and limited aim of increasing participation of women to labour market paved the way to the adoption of gender equality perspective in all activities of the EU. Turkey, as a candidate country for full membership to the EU undertakes the obligation of transposing the EU norms of gender equality into its domestic law. This study, after providing a detailed examination of the EU acquis communautaire on gender equality, focuses on the relevant provisions of the Turkish Labour Law. Therefore, the emphasis will be put on the assessment of the harmonization process of national laws and practices. The paper is concluded with an analysis of some lacking points in the Turkish Labour Law. The harmonization process of Turkish laws will correspond to a period in which the gender aspect of Turkish economic and social policies will need to be integrated with those policies of the EU through a strong awareness raising of citizens and key economic and social players on gender policies.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Gender Equality, Equal Treatment, Non-discrimination, EC

Kaynakça

1. Arribas, G. V. & Carrasco, L. (2003). Gender Equality and the EU, An Assessment of the Current Issues, EIPASCOPE 2003/1. Retrieved June 15, 2007, from Web site: http://www.eipa.nl.
2. Athela, K. (2005). The Revised Provisions on Sex: Discrimination in European Law: A Critical Assessment. European Law Journal, 11(1), 57-78.
3. Bakırcı, K. (2006). Protection of Women Employees before and after Childbirth in Turkish Employment Law. The International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations, 22, 4, 615-633.
4. Barnard, C. (2006). EC Employment Law, NY: Oxford University Press.
5. Blanpain, R. (2006). European Labour Law. The Hague: Kluwer Law International.
6. Bruun, N. (2004). The New Legal Framework for Equality in the European Union. In A. C. Neal (Ed.), The Changing Face of European Labour Law and Social Policy (pp.83-95). The Hague: Kluwer Law International.
7. Burrows, N. & Robinson, M. (2007). An Assessment of the Recast of Community Equality Laws. European Law Journal, 13, 2, 186-203.
8. Centel, T. (2006). 2005 Yılı Türkiye İlerleme Raporu’nun Sosyal Yönü Bağlamında Eleştirel Yaklaşım. Sicil İş Hukuku Dergisi, MESS, 1(1).

9. Communication from the Commission on “Incorporating Equal Opportunities for Women and Men into All Community Policies and Activities”, COM (96) 67 final, 1996.
10. Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social committee and the Committee of the Regions - A Roadmap for equality between women and men 2006-2010 {SEC(2006) 275}, COM/2006/0092 final.
11. Çelik, N. (2003). İş Hukuku Dersleri. İstanbul: Beta Yayınları.
12. Daly, M. (2005). Gender Mainstreaming in Theory and Practice, Social Politics: International Studies in Gender. State & Society, 12, 3, 433-450.
13. Fredman, S. (2002). Discrimination Law. New York: Oxford University Press.
14. General Report on Developments in EU Gender Equality Law (June 2004- May 2005), European Commission.
15. Gören, Z. (1991). Farklı Cinslerin Eşit Haklara Sahip Olmaları. Ankara: D.E.Ü. Hukuk Fakültesi Yayını, Yayın no. 20.
16. Marjorie, L. (2005) Gender and European Union Development Policy. Paper presented at European Union Studies Association (EUSA), Biennial Conference. Retrieved November 3, 2006, from Web site: http://www.aei.pitt.edu/3308.
17. Masselot, A. (2007). The State of Gender Equality Law in the European Union. European Law Journal, 13, 2, 152-168.
18. Millns, S. (2007). Gender Equality, Citizenship, and the EU’s Constitutional Future. European Law Journal, 13, 2, 218-237.
19. Prechal, S. (2004). Equality of Treatment, Non-discrimination and Social Policy: Achievements in Three Themes, Common Market Law Review, 41, 533-551.
20. Schiek, D. (2002). A New Framework on Equal Treatment of Persons in EC Law?. European Law Journal, 8, 2, 290-314.
21. Screening, Chapter 19 - Social Policy and Employment, Agenda Item: Equal Opportunities. Retrieved June 25, 2007, from Web Site: http://www.euturkey.org.tr/files/tarama.
22. Süzek, S. (2005). İş Hukuku. İstanbul: BETA Basım A.Ş.
23. Türkiye’de Kadınların Çalışma Yaşamına Katılımı ve Avrupa Birliği’ne Uyum Sürecinde Gerçekleştirilen Çalışmalar, KSSGM (DGSPW Report). Retrieved June 28, 2007, from Web site: http://www.kssgm. gov.tr/istihdam.html.
24. The EU Parental Leave Agreement and Directive Implications for National Law and Practice, European Industrial Relations Observatory On- line. Retrieved June 28, 2007, from Web site: http://www. eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/1998/01/study/tn9801201s.htm.