The government has launched an effort to reform Turkey's legislation on trade unions, a reform that should have been passed last year as part of the European Union harmonization process.

Turkey's current legislation on labor unions is a remnant of the Sept. 12, 1980 coup and includes a number of anti-democratic provisions. The International Labour Organization's (ILO) Application Committee reports from June of this year indicate violations in Turkey, and so the government has decided to complete labor union reform by the end of 2009. The reform is also an absolute prerequisite for the opening of the Social Convention and Employment chapter in Turkey's EU negotiations. Sources say Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has ordered Labor and Social Security Minister Ömer Dinçer to complete the necessary work for the adoption of union reform laws by year's end. Until Oct. 1, when Parliament ends its summer recess, he will be meeting with trade and employer union representatives to brief them on the new legislation and seek their support. The reform law actually went to Parliament in April, but the government withdrew the bill because of the increasingly palpable effects of the global economic crisis. Dinçer has been holding talks with the Union of Chambers and Commercial Exchanges, the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DİSK) and the Confederation of Turkey Employers Union. The government seeks to reach full consensus when the law is adopted. The law, which introduces completely new rules and regulations to the realm of trade unions, has the potential to displace many a union leader -- this is why the reform process is viewed as a litmus test for unions, which have staunchly supported EU-inspired reforms until now.However consensus might not be that easy to reach in terms of amending Turkey's existing union laws. In April, then-Minister of Industry and Commerce Zafer Çağlayan voiced strong objections to the reform, noting in particular the concerns of employer unions regarding changes to seniority compensation to be paid out to employees.Dinçer's predecessor, Faruk Çelik, had made a tour of leaders and representatives of trade unions, political parties and employers' organizations, seeking support for the union law reform. His meetings revealed that opposition parties also have serious reservations about union law reform -- but Prime Minister Erdoğan expects Dinçer to minimize these issues and discord. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has announced that it will support every move toward harmonization with ILO standards, but the government still needs the support of the other parties represented in Parliament.The unionization rate among workers in Turkey is 58 percent, which is above the European average. Out of 5.4 million registered workers, 3 million are trade labor union members, but labor experts estimate that the real number of union workers is only slightly above 1 million, noting that most labor unions have an inactive membership comprising workers who are only members on paper.One of the major topics of contention in the proposed reform is the 10 percent rule, in which a union needs to have at least 10 percent membership in a certain occupational field to be able to participate in collective bargaining talks. The new law seeks to redefine these occupational fields and bring their number down to 19 from 28, in compliance with ILO standards. Unions believe that shutting down nine workers' unions might leave some leaders in the industry jobless, or place smaller unions under the influence of bigger ones. Roadmap for new law readyOn June 1 the ILO pointed to Turkey's violation of ILO Conventions 87 and 89, placing Turkey on a list of countries to be discussed at the Application Committee.The government was not pleased with Turkey's status at the Application Committee, and has finally decided to move forward and harmonize the nation's domestic laws with ILO conventions. According to a timetable designated by the Labor Ministry, the government has promised to adopt the necessary legislative changes by 2009. The new law is expected to reach Parliament in October. In addition to changes to labor laws and the Law on Associations, the 54th Article of the Turkish Constitution, which regulates unions, will also be changed --  erasing all traces of the Sept. 12 coup from Turkey's trade union life.Yet observers do not believe this will all be easy. In addition to opposition parties, the government has many workers' and employers' union leaders to convince.  03 July 2009, FridayERCAN YAVUZ  ANKARA