Paylaş: Introduction
Work Hours, Overtime, and Leave
Standard Work Hours:
- The standard working week in Turkey is 45 hours, distributed across six days. Any work beyond these hours is considered overtime.
Overtime Regulations:
- Overtime is limited to a maximum of 270 hours per year, with employees entitled to 1.5 times their regular hourly wage for overtime hours. Foreign workers are subject to the same overtime regulations.
Annual Leave:
- Employees are entitled to 14 days of paid annual leave after one year of continuous employment. This leave entitlement increases with years of service, up to 26 days for employees who have worked for 15 years or more.
Maternity and Paternity Leave:
- Female employees are entitled to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave (8 weeks before birth and 8 weeks after). Fathers are entitled to 5 days of paid paternity leave.
Termination of Employment
Termination by Employer:
Employers must provide valid reasons for terminating a worker, which may include poor performance, misconduct, or redundancy. The employer must give written notice, and the duration of notice depends on the length of service:
- 2 weeks for up to 6 months of service
- 4 weeks for 6 months to 1.5 years of service
- 6 weeks for 1.5 to 3 years of service
- 8 weeks for more than 3 years of service
Severance Pay:
- Employees who have worked for at least one year are entitled to severance pay if dismissed without just cause. The amount is based on the employee’s salary and length of service, typically one month’s salary for each year worked.
Resignation by Employee:
- Employees are also required to provide notice before resigning, following the same periods as employers. In the case of resignation due to mistreatment or unsafe working conditions, the employee may have legal grounds for immediate termination.
Social Security and Health Insurance
Mandatory Social Security Contributions:
- Both employers and employees (including foreign workers) must contribute to the Social Security Institution (SGK). These contributions cover healthcare, unemployment insurance, and retirement benefits.
Health Insurance:
- Foreign workers are automatically enrolled in Turkey’s national health insurance system upon receiving a work permit. This provides access to public healthcare services across the country.
Recent Developments (2024)
Digital Work Permit Applications:
- In 2024, Turkey introduced digital platforms for work permit applications and renewals, reducing the administrative burden for employers and foreign workers.
Increased Focus on Worker Rights:
- Turkey has strengthened regulations regarding workplace safety and anti-discrimination, ensuring better protection for both local and foreign workers.
Conclusion
Navigating Turkish employment law as a foreign worker or employer requires an understanding of work permit requirements, labor rights, and the legal framework for employment contracts. With recent developments aimed at improving digital processes and worker protections, foreign nationals can benefit from a well-structured legal system that safeguards their rights while working in Turkey.
