Social Security of Agricultural Workers in France and Türkiye

Abstract

Agricultural production is carried out under natural conditions and depends on the conditions of the seasons. For this reason, the agricultural sector is inherently a sector with high levels of dangerous and physical risks. Workers in the agricultural sector are exposed to dangerous and physical risks during their activities and may also be excluded from social protection. As in other sectors, agricultural workers and their dependent families should also benefit from social protection. In the world, social security first emerged in the industrial sector and then started to be implemented in the service and agricultural sectors. The United States of America was the first country to support social security with a law in 1935, and although the first version of the law excluded the agricultural sector, the agricultural sector was included in social security with new regulations made in the law over time. This study analyses how social security is provided in the agricultural sector in France and Turkey by using laws and findings from the literature. France is one of the leading agricultural producers in the European Union and has comprehensive social security arrangements for the agricultural sector. To ensure social security in the agricultural sector, an agricultural social protection system is used. This system operates under the joint supervision of the ministries of agriculture, economy, finance and development. In Turkey, various arrangements have been made over the years to include the agricultural sector in social security. However, a compulsory social security system that fully covers the agricultural sector could not be established in all periods of regulation.