Conditions of Employment

Working conditions in Turkey is mainly governed by the Labor Code and Trade Union Law.

Under the Labor Law, there are various employment contract types:

• Employment Contracts for “Temporary” and “Permanent” employment,
• Employment Contracts for “Definite Duration” or “Indefinite Duration” employment,
• Employment Contracts for “Part-time” or “Full time” employment
• Employment Contracts for “On-call working”
• Employment Contracts with “Probation Duration”
• Employment Contracts created with Gang Contract.

Employment Contracts are exempt from stamp duty and any image and fee.

Discrimination against employees for their language, race, gender, political view, philosophical belief, religion or similar parameters are prohibited legally. Discrimination based on the gender while determining the salaries to be provided for the persons carrying out the same or equivalent duties are prohibited as well.   

Working Times and Overtime

Pursuant to the Labor Law, the ordinary working time is up to 45 hours a week. In principle, this 45-hour period is evenly distributed equally over working days. However, in accordance with the Labor Law, the working period can be arranged within the legal limits by the employer.

Payments for hours exceeding the 45-hour weekly working time limit, as a rule, are made within the scope of "overtime". The wage to be paid for each hour of overtime is paid by increasing the amount of normal working wage per hour by fifty percent. Instead of paying for overtime workers, 1.5 hours of rest can also be given for each hour of overtime. For overtime work during week holidays and public holidays, the worker is paid a one-day holiday wage and overtime wage. Wages can be increased based on collective labor agreements or individual employment contracts signed between employees and employers. Total overtime cannot exceed 270 hours a year.

Paid Annual Leave

There are a total of nine paid holidays, including seven paid public holidays (1 January, 23 April, 1 May, 19 May, 15 July, 30 August and 29 October) and two paid religious holidays. Provided that they have worked for at least one year, including trial period, employees are entitled to paid annual leave in accordance with the following working hours:

These leave periods are the minimum periods specified in the law and may be extended based on collective labor agreements or individual employment contracts signed between employees and employers.

(Click here for more detailed information about employees and social security.)