The labor law of Turkey is applicable to both foreign and local citizens residing in Turkey. Some of the clauses mentioned in the law have been recently revised, such as an article about severance payment. In this blog post, we will review the labor law of Turkey and study some of its clauses and their applications.
Types of Employment Contracts
- Team contract.
- Part-time or full-time.
- “Work-upon-call.”
- Temporary or permanent work.
- Starting with a trial period.
- Definite or indefinite period.
Content of the Employment Contracts
According to Turkish Employment Law, a work contract, despite its type, must ensure that the following details are present:
- Working hours
- Information about employee and employer
- Conditions of employment
- Salary and other benefits
The employment contract must be in a formal written format, and it should be duly signed by both the employer and the employee.
Probation Period
The law clearly dictates that employees are required to clear the specified probation period as ordained by law. The probation period could be up to 2 months or 6 months, depending on the nature of the job and the type of company.
Payment of Employees
Employees have the right to receive the specified amount of payment as mentioned in their work contracts. Employers are required to disburse the payments in a timely manner. Salaries can be distributed on a monthly basis or daily basis, depending on the nature of the job.
Working Hours and Holidays
Every full-time employee is required to work at least 45 hours per week. An employee who exceeds the specified working hours should be compensated for overtime and paid 50% higher than their original salary. According to the labor law, employees are allowed 6 paid annual leave holidays. They can also have 2 days for religious reasons.
Contract Termination
An employee is obligated to inform their employer by written notice if they wish to end their contract with the company. Similarly, an employer is also obligated to inform the employee in case of termination (due to a reasonable cause) prior to the termination date via a written notice. An employer can decide to fire an employee if they don’t meet the requirements of the work contract or if any of the terms and conditions are breached.
Discrimination
Employers, as well as other fellow employees, are prohibited from acts of discrimination on the grounds of racial background, origin, ethnicity, or political affiliation. Any act of discrimination or workplace harassment is strictly prohibited in the labor law of Turkey.
Conclusion
The labor law of Turkey is designed to fix the imbalance of power between the employer and the employees. The purpose of the labor code of Turkey is to protect the rights of employees against unfair treatment and malpractice, such as dismissing a worker without a good cause or racial discrimination. Click here to learn more about the labor laws in Turkey.
