Turkey
Knowledge Base
Frequently asked question, important data and information on EOR.
General information
TRY 8,506.80 per month
Labor Law
Laws that regulate Labor Relationship
The main laws and regulations that govern labor relations in Turkey are:
The Labor Law No. 4857, which sets out the basic rights and obligations of employers and employees, including minimum wage, working hours, annual leave, and termination procedures.
The Social Security and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510, which establishes a mandatory social security system for employees in Turkey and provides for various types of social security benefits.
The Law on Trade Unions and Collective Labor Agreements No. 6356, which regulates the formation and operation of trade unions and collective bargaining agreements between employers and employees.
The Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331, which aims to protect workers’ health and safety in the workplace by setting out various safety standards and requirements.
The Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098, which governs contractual relationships in general and includes provisions on employment contracts and compensation for damages arising from labor law violations.
Onboarding guide
Requirements for a labor contract
• Name
• Address
• Marital status
• ID card number
• Date and place of Birth
• Email
• Job Title
• Working hours
• Start date
• Trial period
• Salary
• Bonuses and allowances (if applicable)
• Holiday rights
• Supervisor’s name
• Supervisor’s email
Pre-hire Medical exam
Medical examinations are not mandatory for onboarding a new hire in Turkey, but employers may request health reports if deemed necessary.
Types of contracts
The types of labor contracts permitted in Turkey include fixed-term contracts, indefinite contracts, part-time contracts, and project-based contracts.
Probation Period
The probation period for an employee in Turkey is two months.
Are offer letters mandatory in the country?
Offer letters are not mandatory for labor contracts in Turkey, but they are commonly used to outline the key terms and conditions of the employment relationship.
Are digital signatures in labor contracts valid?
Digital signatures are valid in labor contracts in Turkey, according to the Electronic Signature Law.
Mandatory onboarding documents
• Copy of ID
• 1 Photo
• Criminal Record Document
• Residence paper
• Approved identification
• Health report
• Military Status Certificate (only for men)
• Studies certificate copy
• Cumulative tax report (SKG)
Statutory benefits
Annual Bonus
There is no statutory 13th month salary bonus for employees in Turkey.
Additional bonus
Doesn’t apply.
Leaves (medical, maternity, paternity, etc.)
The leaves that apply for employees in Turkey include:
Sick Leave: Employees in Turkey are entitled to paid sick leave. If an employee is sick, they must inform their employer as soon as possible and provide a medical certificate. The length of sick leave varies depending on the length of service with the employer. If an employee has been with the employer for less than a year, they are entitled to 30 days of sick leave. If they have been with the employer for more than a year, they are entitled to 60 days of sick leave.
Maternity Leave: Female employees in Turkey are entitled to 16 weeks of maternity leave. The first 8 weeks must be taken after the birth of the child, while the remaining 8 weeks can be taken before or after the birth.
Paternity Leave: Male employees in Turkey are entitled to 5 days of paternity leave following the birth of their child.
Marriage Leave: Employees in Turkey are entitled to 3 days of paid leave for their marriage.
Bereavement Leave: Employees in Turkey are entitled to 3 days of paid leave in the event of the death of their spouse, child, or parent. They are also entitled to 1 day of paid leave in the event of the death of their sibling or grandparent.
Annual Leave (days per year)
Annual leave depends on seniority according to the Turkish labor law as follows:
• 1 to 5 years:14 working days
• 5 to 15 years: 20 working days
• 15 years: or longer 26 working days
The entitled leave is to be taken in the next service year.
Note: These periods are minimum leave requirements by law; more days of annual leave can be determined by employment contracts.
How do vacation days expire?
It is forbidden in Turkey to cancel any vacation rights of an employee. That’s why, employee has the right to keep it and use it the following years. Nevertheless, employer has the right to recommend to the employee to use vacation rights during the year and to precise that is the internal rule at the company.
Official Holidays
The official holidays for 2023 in Turkey are as follows:
January 1: New Year’s Day
April 23: National Sovereignty and Children’s Day
May 1: Labor and Solidarity Day
May 19: Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day
July 15: Democracy and National Unity Day
August 30: Victory Day
October 29: Republic Day
Working on holidays and Sundays
Employees who work on Sundays and public holidays in Turkey are entitled to additional pay, which is usually double the regular pay rate.
Number of Working hours
The statutory working hours per week in Turkey are 45, with a maximum of 11 hours per day.
Overtime
Any working hours that exceed the 45 hours/week limit count as overtime, which must be justified by national interest, the nature of the operation or the need to increase output. Overtime wages are remunerated at 1.5 times the normal hourly rate – or the employee can choose to take the equivalent time off in lieu (1.5 hours per extra hour worked) within 6 months.
Notes: 1. If the contract specifies a working week of <45 hours, overtime is remunerated at 1.25 times the normal hourly rate – or the employee can choose to take the equivalent time off in lieu (1.25 hours per extra hour worked) within 6 months.
2. The maximum overtime hours cannot exceed 270 hours in a year and the employee’s consent is required for overtime work
3. The following employees are not allowed to do overtime:
• Employees who are under 18 years of age
• Employees who are pregnant
• Employees who are working with definite term employment contract
• Employees who are proving they are lack of sanitary conditions
Social Security (what does it cover)
Social Security in Turkey covers health insurance, retirement insurance, work-related accident insurance, and unemployment insurance.
Payroll
Salary payment currency
The local currency in Turkey is the Turkish lira.
Can salary be paid in a different currency other than the local currency?
Employers in Turkey must pay salaries in Turkish lira, but they may agree with their employees to pay part of the salary in a foreign currency.
Payment frequency
The typical payment frequency for employees in Turkey is monthly.
VAT percentage
The standard VAT rate in Turkey is 18%.
Income Tax
Residents and non-residents are taxed at progressive income tax rates ranging from 15% to 40% For more information see https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/turkey/individual/taxes-on-personal-income
Tax Payer Identification Number
TIN – VKN (Vergi Kimlik Numarası)
Offboarding
Voluntary resignation
There are no specific rules for voluntary resignation in Turkey. However, employees are generally required to give notice to their employer before resigning. The notice period is usually stated in the employment contract and is typically 2 weeks.
Contract termination
A labor contract in Turkey can be terminated for the following reasons:
Mutual agreement between the employer and the employee
Termination by the employer for a valid reason, such as poor performance or misconduct by the employee
Termination by the employee for a valid reason, such as breach of contract by the employer
Termination due to the death of the employee or the employer
Termination due to force majeure, such as a natural disaster or an economic crisis
Justified Dismissal
Justified dismissal in Turkey can occur when an employee has engaged in serious misconduct, such as theft, fraud, or violence in the workplace. Other reasons for justified dismissal may include failure to follow workplace rules and procedures, insubordination, and repeated absences without a valid excuse.
Unjustified Dismissal
In Turkey, if an employee is unjustly dismissed, they are entitled to compensation. The amount of compensation depends on the employee’s length of service and is equal to their last 4 months of salary for each year of service. For example, an employee who has worked for 5 years would be entitled to 20 months of salary as compensation.
In Turkey, employers must pay severance pay to employees in case of contract termination. The amount of severance pay is calculated based on the employee’s length of service and their last salary. The severance pay is equal to 30 days of salary for each year of service for the first 10 years, and 45 days of salary for each year of service thereafter.
Minimum Notice Period
Notice period depends on the employee’s seniority as follows:
• 2 weeks: seniority up to 6 months
• 4 weeks: between 6 months and 1,5 years
• 6 weeks: between 1,5 years and 3 years
• 8 weeks: over 3 years
Immigration
Visa process
Procedure to obtain a work permit in Turkey if the applicant already has a resident permit in Turkey:
1. The applicant must send the required documents (see Visa documents section).
2. We’ll submit the employment contract for signature.
3. As soon as we receive the signed contract, we’ll officially submit the Work Permit in Turkey request to Turkish authorities.
• If the applicant doesn’t have a Residence Permit in Turkey:
1. The applicant must send us the same documents listed in the Visa documents section.
2. Then, we will send a signed employment contract and an application letter.
3. The applicant must present it at the local Turkish consulate* (it can be any Turkish Consulate in a country where the applicant has a resident permit). The Turkish consulate will indicate the application number for a work permit in Turkey, the applicant must send this number to us immediately, to add it to the application form requested by Turkish authorities.
4. As soon as we have received the signed contract, we’ll submit the Work Permit request to Turkish authorities.
5. After validation of the Work Permit, the applicant will receive an official Work Permit in Turkey.
6. The applicant must register at the «Nüfus müdürlüğü» of the district of residence and provide the rental agreement.
Visa documents
• A copy passport
• A copy of resident permit (if any)
• 4 photos
• A copy of last diploma validated
• A Resume
• Work permit in Turkey application fullfilled
• A letter with details of Job Title, Missions and exact location in Turkey
Contact us and start your business expansion today
