In the Context of the Blurring of the Parties in Industrial Relations Self-Employed Courier Employment

Abstract

In recent years, self- employed courier model has been widely used as an employment strategy in the world and in Turkey. The self- employed courier model refers to a form of employment in which those working in postal and courier services are legally self- employed. This employment status is a model in which the traditional employee- employer relationship disappears. In this model, the gray area in employment statuses is filled with a complex and ambiguous legal status. Couriers are seen as self- employed, although they have an element of dependency. Employers can bypass the obligations of social security and labor legislation through this method. In terms of industrial relations, a blurred area emerges. Couriers cannot organize under the umbrella of a trade union due to their legal status. An industrial relations system emerges in which freedom of association, collective bargaining and the right to strike do not exist. The aim of the study is to reveal the fluctuating status of the parties in the industrial relations system. © 2025, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved.