In Turkey, employees enjoy certain entitlements and rights that are designed to protect their well-being and promote a fair and equitable work environment. In this article, we will outline the key aspects of employee entitlements and rights in Turkey.
The minimum wage in Turkey is set at TRY 2,850.50 per month, providing a baseline income for all workers.
Employees are subject to specific regulations regarding working hours:
- Maximum 45 hours per week.
- Maximum 11 hours per day.
- Night work, defined as the period from 8 pm to 6 am, is permissible, but it is forbidden to work for more than 7.5 hours during the night work period.
The minimum age for employment in Turkey is 16 years, ensuring that young workers are protected from exploitation.
- Overtime work is compensated at a rate of one and a half times the employee’s standard pay rate, as per Turkish labor law.
- The total amount of overtime cannot exceed 270 hours per year.
- Workers who have completed one year of service are entitled to annual leave.
- The number of annual leave days is determined based on the employee’s age and years of service:
- 1 to 5 years of service: Two weeks of paid vacation.
- 5 to 15 years of service: 20 days of paid vacation.
- More than 15 years of service: 26 days of paid vacation.
Turkey observes several paid public holidays, including New Year, National Sovereignty and Children’s Day, Labor and Solidarity Day, and others.
- Employees are entitled to up to one week of paid sick leave upon submission of a confirmatory medical report.
- The employer has the discretion to extend sick leave.
- Extended sick leave beyond six weeks may result in the termination of the employment contract with severance pay.
- Pregnant women in Turkey are entitled to 16 weeks of maternity leave, with eight weeks taken before and eight weeks after childbirth.
- In the case of complicated pregnancies (twins or more), maternity leave is extended to 18 weeks.
- Women can work up to three weeks before delivery, and any remaining leave can be taken after childbirth, depending on their health and the baby’s health.
- After paid leave ends, a working mother can request six months of unpaid leave without affecting her vacation pay.
- During pregnancy, time off is allowed for regular medical examinations, and after delivery, an employee can request breaks for breastfeeding.
- Parents are permitted to take up to three days of parental leave.
- Employees can take three days of paid leave for their wedding.
- In the event of the death of close family members (mother, father, spouse, brother, sister, or child), employees are entitled to three days of paid leave.
- Public and private health insurance is mandatory for employees in Turkey, and the Ministry of Health governs all health and social protection activities.
- Public health insurance contributions are automatically deducted from employees’ salaries, ensuring access to essential healthcare services.
Understanding these employee entitlements and rights is essential for both workers and employers in Turkey to foster a fair and supportive working environment. To delve deeper into the intricacies of employment laws and agreements in Turkey, it is advisable to consult experts such as those at San Global who specialize in this area.
San Global is well-equipped to assist you with your Employer of Record (EOR) and payroll requirements (also known as the Umbrella Company) in Turkey. We are capable of handling your HR (Recruitment) needs, even in the absence of a legal entity in Turkey.