İşçi ve Bağımsız Çalışan Ayrımı: Profesyonel Sürücüler Örneği

Pek çok ülkede, bağımlı ve bağımsız çalışmayı birbirinden ayıran temel kriter, bağımlılıktır, diğer bir ifadeyle kontrol testidir. Ancak söz konusu testin uygulanması bazı olaylarda güçlük arz etmektedir ve bu zorlu görev esas itibariyle yargıya ait olmaktadır. Bu nedenle söz konusu testin uygulanması farklı ülkelerin yargı kararlarında önemli farklılıklar gösterebilmektedir. Bu çalışmada, bağımlılık testinin aynı mesleğe –profesyonel sürücülereuygulanması, bu kişilerin işçi mi yoksa sadece söz konusu aracın kiralayanı yani bağımsız çalışan mı oldukları konusundaki iki farklı yargısal yaklaşım karşılaştırılmalı olarak ele alınmıştır. Amerikan mahkemeleri söz konusu testin içerdiği faktörleri tek tek ayrıntılı şekilde irdelemekte ve yasal testlerin somut olaya nasıl uygulandığını tatmin edici bir karar gerekçesiyle açık şekilde ortaya koymaktadır. Buna karşılık Türk hukukunda incelediğimiz kararlarda bağımlılık unsuruna ilişkin prensiplerin somut olaya nasıl uygulandığına ilişkin tatmin edici ve ayrıntılı bir gerekçe ortaya konulmamaktadır. Gerçekten de, mahkeme hükümlerinin bazen -formül gerekçede yer almayan- son derece tali unsurlara dayalı olarak verildiği görülmektedir. Böylece Türk yargısı, ekonomik bağımlılığından dolayı işçi ve bağımsız çalışan arasındaki gri bölgede kalan çalışanları işçi kategorisinde kabul etmeye daha istekli görülmektedir. Her ne kadar sonucu itibariyle işçi kavramının geniş yorumlanması yerinde kabul edilebilirse de, sonraki davalarda hukuki belirlilik ve öngörülebilirlik sağlanması açısından Amerikan hukukunda olduğu gibi Türk hukukunda da daha tatmin edici ve tutarlı gerekçelerle sonuca ulaşılması gerekir.

HE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEE AND THE SELF-EMPLOYED:THE CASE OF PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS

In many countries, the principal criterion of the distinction between dependent and independent work is subordination, in other words, the control test. This test, however, is difficult to apply in some cases, which is mainly a complicated task of case law, and therefore, its interpretation and application could significantly vary across different jurisdictions. In this study, we have handled and compared two different judicial approaches to implementing this test for the same profession, the case of professional drivers, whether they are employees or just a lessee of the vehicle, namely an self-employed entrepreneur (independent contractor). In the US, the courts scrutinize all the factors of the tests one by one, and clearly present how the legal principles and tests were applied in the case under the rationale of the orders. In Turkish law, on the other hand, there is no complete and detailed explanation of how formulated principles for subordination took place in the present case. As a matter of fact, cases were sometimes based on the extremely secondary elements, which have not been mentioned in its formula rationale. Thus, Turkish jurisprudence seems to be willing to find an employment relationship in such cases, which could also indicate the willingness of Turkish courts to consider the workers, who are in the gray zone due to their economic dependency to be in the employee category. Even if this broad judicial interpretation can be regarded as to be proper as a result, a more satisfactory and coherent justification should be declared, as in American law, in order to provide legal certainty and predictability for subsequent cases.

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