Right of Association (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 (No. 11) - Türkiye (Ratification: 1961)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

The Committee notes the observations of the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ), submitted with the Government’s report. The Committee notes that according to TÜRK-İŞ, organizing remains difficult in private sector farms where statistics confirm a lower unionization rate, compared to publicly owned agricultural enterprises. It further alleges that seasonal agricultural work in Türkiye, generally involving unpaid family labour or informal domestic work, leads to widespread informal and insecure employment, thereby severely limiting unionization opportunities. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments thereon.

Replies received to the issues raised in a direct request which do not give rise to further comments (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government, which answers the points raised in its previous direct request and has no further matters to raise in this regard.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

The Committee had previously requested the Government to indicate which legislation regulated the right of agricultural and forestry workers to establish and join an organization of their own choosing. The Committee notes that, in its report, the Government indicates that their right to organize is regulated by Act No. 2821 on trade unions and Act No. 2822 on collective labour agreements. Recalling that for a number of years it had been raising a number of issues with respect to several provisions of these Acts, the Committee refers to its comments under the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87).

The Committee had previously noted that the Constitution and Act No. 2821 did not allow self-employed farmers to establish or join a labour union and requested the Government to take the necessary steps to ensure that they enjoyed the same association and combination rights that are granted to industrial workers. The Committee notes that the Government confirms that these pieces of legislation do not allow self-employed farmers (producers) to establish trade unions. According to the Government, only workers under a contract of employment may exercise this right, as well as employers. The Government indicates that self-employed workers may, however, establish associations and participate in their activities pursuant to the Associations Act (No. 5253). The Committee notes that, pursuant to section 5(11) of this Act, it is forbidden to establish associations for the purpose of “… coordinating the activities of trade unions or any public professional organizations …”. The Committee requests the Government to clarify the meaning of this section and to indicate whether self-employed farmers have the right to establish and join unions of their own choosing for the furthering and defending their interests, like workers under a contract of employment.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

The Committee notes that, according to section 4(b) of Labour Act No. 4857, of 2003, this Act does not apply to establishments and enterprises carrying out agriculture and forestry work and employing less than 50 workers. The Committee requests the Government to indicate according to which legal text the above workers have the right to establish and join an organization of their own choosing.

On the other hand, taking into account that the Constitution and the Trade Unions Act do not allow self-employed farmers to establish or join a labour union, the Committee requests the Government to take the necessary steps to ensure that they enjoy the same association and combination rights that are granted to industrial workers.