UNEMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL PROTECTION IN TURKEY

In this short writing, I will focus on the life cycle risk of unemployment within the context of Turkey. I will explain why social protection strategies should address unemployment, considering the concept of ‘prosperity’ which is one of the five pillars of social protection. Also, I will introduce the gaps in the current social protection strategies in Turkey and how the issues related to unemployment can be potentially better addressed through social protection.

Social protection is crucial for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Moreover, social protection is a fundamental human right (ILO, 2012; 2021). The lifecycle approach is one of the types of approaches to social protection. The lifecycle approach is rooted in the idea that individuals face a range of risks and vulnerabilities in their lifetime, and these risks can and should be addressed by social protection.

When creating social protection systems, five pillars of social protection should be considered. One of these five pillars is ‘prosperity’. To achieve prosperity, individuals’ participation in economic and social life should be ensured by creating social conditions that can assist people in life to flourish and live in dignity (NGO Committee on Social Development, 2018). Social protection “guarantees that all members of society are well protected, […for instance] those affected by […] unemployment, on a basis of social solidarity and collective financing. By ensuring […] access to income security, it prevents or at least alleviates poverty and reduces vulnerability, social exclusion, and inequality” (ILO, 2021, p. 33). Therefore, the social protection systems are, in their role, responsible for ensuring income security for individuals affected by unemployment to assist them to be involved in economic and social life and live in dignity.

Despite the immense importance of creating a social protection system that shelters individuals from poverty and assists them access income security, in Turkey, income security is only available for a ‘select’ group of individuals. ISKUR (Turkish Employment Organization) sets the standards for unemployment benefits In Turkey. Unemployment benefits are crucial, according to ILO (2000), for providing income security for individuals. Regarding ISKUR (2019), the eligibility for these benefits is decided under the following conditions: (i) being subjected to a labour contract for the last 120 days before the termination of the labour contract, and (ii) having paid unemployment insurance premium for minimum 600 days within the last three years before the termination of the labour contract”. This implies that people who have never been employed and have never had paid the unemployment insurance are not eligible for the unemployment benefits.

I believe, however, those who are currently not eligible for unemployment benefits, for instance, young people who are freshly graduated, should also enjoy income security, at least for a limited period of time to live in dignity and peace. During this limited time period, such people can be provided with vocational training, skill development programmes to be actively involved in the job market. Only then, they can access nutrition, health care, education and other necessary services (ILO, 2012) and live in dignity and prosperity.


REFERENCES

ILO (International Labour Organization). (2000). Unemployment Benefits and Income Security: Discussion Paper.

ILO (International Labour Organization). (2021). World Social Protection Report 2020-22.

ILO (International Labour Organization). (2012). Social protection floors recommendation.

ISKUR (Turkish Employment Organization). (2019). Unemployment Benefit. Https://Www.Iskur.Gov.Tr/En/Job-Seeker/Unemployment-Insurance/Unemployment-Benefit/.

NGO Committee on Social Development. (2018). Social protection: A coherent strategy for shared prosperity.