Seasonal Employment Agreements

According to the labor force statistics published by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) for 2024, 14.8% of total employment was in the agriculture sector, while 6.6% was in construction and 57.9% was in service sector.¹ In Türkiye, sectors that constitute a significant share of total employment, such as agriculture, construction, tourism, and food, often experience high labor demand only during certain periods of the year. To meet this fluctuating demand, the seasonal employment model is frequently implemented in these sectors. This study aims to examine the legal nature and practical applications of seasonal employment contracts, as well as to summarize the main discussions on the subject, in light of the Labor Law numbered 4857 (“Labor Law”),² its secondary legislation, Court of Appeals’s decisions, and relevant legal doctrine.