Labour, Employment, And Social Policies In Türkiye According To British Ambassador Sir David Kelly (1936–1947)

Abstract

This article examines the transformation of Türkiye’s social policy in the aftermath of World War II within the framework of its evolving relationship with the International Labour Organization (ILO). It focuses particularly on a comprehensive report prepared by Sir David Kelly, British Ambassador in Ankara, following the ILO Regional Conference held in Istanbul on 24 November 1947. As a victorious country in World War II, Britain shapes global politics and is interested in Turkey and the Middle East. By closely following developments in Turkey, Britain makes significant contributions to the region’s transformation and development. Turkey established warm relations with Britain during the war and continued to maintain these close ties afterward. British diplomats serving in Turkey reported every development in Turkey to London, as well as taking a close interest in Turkey’s domestic and foreign affairs. This study is based entirely on reports prepared by British diplomats. The report, submitted to the British Foreign Office, provides an in-depth assessment of Türkiye’s labour legislation, social security practices and institutional-cultural dynamics. Beyond legal frameworks, it also examines implementation challenges, bureaucratic inefficiencies and Türkiye’s alignment with international labour standards. The study analyses the evolution of social policy in Türkiye beginning with the 1936 Labour Law No. 3008, with attention to strike and unionization rights, rural development efforts and the broader process of adapting to global norms. Adopting a qualitative methodology, the article draws on primary sources such as archival records, diplomatic correspondence and British embassy reports. Ultimately, the study aims to evaluate Türkiye’s transition toward a social state model, while also addressing how its policies were externally assessed, particularly through British diplomatic observation. In doing so, it provides a historical analysis of Türkiye’s post-war social policy orientation.