ActHuman V Precariat and Social Security Report

Executive Summary

In its simplest form, precarious work—defined as an uncertain, unpredictable, and risky mode of employment—is increasingly becoming a global norm. As this type of work becomes more widespread, the concept of the precariat has moved to the center of political and economic debates at both national and international levels. Discussions on migration, youth unemployment, and brain drain now frequently invoke the notion of the precariat. The precariat is commonly defined as an emerging social class that is chronically confined to temporary and insecure forms of employment. Its members typically live in a state of constant anxiety, situated in an ambiguous space between unemployment and the threat of unemployment, and experience persistent feelings of insecurity and uncertainty. They are often isolated from core production mechanisms and become alienated from both the workplace and their coworkers.

This study, prepared within the scope of ActHuman V through the collaboration of İNGEV and Sabancı University’s Istanbul Policy Center (IPC), examines the problem of precariousness in Turkey and opens a discussion on potential social and economic policy responses to the challenges arising from the expansion of the precariat. In the post–COVID-19 period, the increase in precarious employment practices alongside the rise of populist trends—including anti-immigrant sentiments—has rendered the precariat a politically and legally sensitive issue. Particularly in a country like Turkey, which has a highly polarized social and political structure, the issue gains further importance not only because of the threatening conditions faced by the precariat itself, but also due to the broader social and economic risks it may generate as a “new and dangerous class.”
In this context, it is essential that the state, private sector actors, and civil society organizations develop coherent, long-term policies based on cooperation rather than conflict, with the aim of mitigating the impact of widespread waves of precariousness. Such waves deeply affect social security systems, workers, and employment processes as a whole. The Advisory Board meeting and workshop conducted within the scope of the project focused on designing and sustaining secure and stable employment processes as a response to the expanding precariat in Turkey, as well as on developing the necessary social policies to support this objective. Drawing on the assessments of participants from academia, the private sector, the media, and civil society organizations, as well as the relevant literature, a set of social policy recommendations was developed. These recommendations aim to prioritize secure employment within Turkey’s labor market, reduce fragile labor conditions, and make secure work beneficial for both employees and employers. The intention is for these proposals to provide a foundation for future actions by policymakers and practitioners.
The outcomes of the workshop are summarized in the following nine recommendations. (1) Existing laws and regulations must be effectively enforced. Labor legislation in Turkey—particularly the Labor Law—is largely sufficient to address the deepening of precarious employment practices, but stronger inspection and enforcement mechanisms are required. Public officials responsible for oversight should be adequately informed about their authority and responsibilities and empowered to apply sanctions. (2) Legal definitions and regulations concerning employment status should be revised. In a period where the boundary between self-employment and wage labor has become increasingly blurred due to technological and market transformations, legal frameworks must evolve in ways that prioritize secure employment. (3) Trust in the tax and social security systems must be restored. Widespread distrust has turned taxes and social security contributions into perceived burdens to be avoided, thereby reinforcing precarious employment. Taxation should function as a tool to maintain vulnerable groups’ connection to society and the labor market and to meet basic living needs, potentially through mechanisms such as basic income schemes. (4) Education systems should be strategically planned. Vocational and general education programs at all levels, including secondary and higher education, should be designed based on long-term strategies rather than short-term labor market fluctuations. (5) Secure and sustainable employment for women, youth, and migrants should be supported through incentives and grant programs. These groups should be enabled to establish sustainable business models or participate meaningfully within them. (6) Collective organization should be facilitated and incentivized. Legal and technical barriers to organization should be removed so that even short-term workers can establish ties with trade unions and exercise their rights through collective bargaining, with both the state and unions taking responsibility for oversight and incentives. (7) A long-term and stable technological and economic vision should be adopted. Technology and economic policies must be shaped with the awareness that secure employment for broad segments of society cannot emerge without stable and equitable technological development. (8) Transnational oversight mechanisms should be embraced. Globalized and flexible employment structures deepen insecurity and create unfair competition, making cross-border monitoring and regulation increasingly necessary. (9) Sectors most vulnerable to precarious work—such as textiles and seasonal agricultural labor—should be closely monitored and prioritized through targeted inspection and improvement programs.

Conclusion

It seems that the problem of precariat and social security will continue to be a part of both our national and universal agenda. The fact that concepts such as basic income and universal health care are discussed loudly in all geographies from the West to the East, as well as academic and political interest in the precariat, are mainly related to the interest in the problem and the search for solutions.