The full-text presentation of the study titled "The Legal Status of Motorcycle Couriers in The Republic of Türkiye: In Light of Directive Number 2024/2831" was delivered online on November 29 at the 13th International Marmara Science and Social Sciences Congress. The congress was held as a hybrid event (online and in-person at Kocaeli University) between November 29 and 30, 2024. The data presented and analyzed in this study were derived from my ongoing doctoral dissertation.
This paper examines the legal status of motorcycle couriers, whose numbers increased rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic and who are employed under the "self-employed courier" model, lacking traditional labour law protections. The study centers on Directive (EU) 2024/2831, adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on October 23, 2024, which introduces the principle of "legal presumption" for determining the employment status of platform workers. Data obtained from semi-structured interviews with motorcycle couriers working for various platforms in Ankara were analyzed. Upon examining the algorithmic management and control mechanisms implemented by the platforms, alongside the personal and economic dependence of couriers, it is concluded that these ostensibly self-employed individuals should be classified as dependent workers (employees) in light of the Directive.
Please click on the book cover image below to access the digitally published full-text proceedings book (ISBN: 978-605-72746-8-7).
Yücel, O. Ü. (2024). Türkiye Cumhuriyeti'nde motokuryelerin hukuki statüsü: 2024/2831 numaralı direktif ışığında. In Ö. Gökkaya, M. Of, İ. Kılıçaslan, B. Demir, & K. Kahraman (Eds.), IMASCON 2024 Autumn: 13. International Marmara Science and Social Sciences Congress social sciences proceedings book (pp. 203–210). IMASCONGRESS.