ABSTRACT

The concept of paid/dependant employment in Ottoman Empire, has become more significant by the establishment of factories, at the age of Mahmud II, such as “Beykoz Kundura”, “Feshane”, “Tophane” to fulfil the needs of the army. Although the organizing endeavour of the workers in these factories has arised partially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, qualitative and quantitative development of these organizations has been materialized after the proclamation of the constitutional monarchy which led to a relatively democratic environment. In this study, we discuss the activities, encountered issues and the regulations of Welfare Association of Tobacco Workers and İzmir Garment Worker’s Association, established in 1901 and 1910, respectively