Core principle - equal treatment under Turkish Labour Code
Turkish labour law is based on Law No. 4857 (the Labour Code) and Law No. 5510 (Social Security & General Health Insurance). These laws apply to all workers employed in Turkey, regardless of nationality. Once you have a valid work permit and are employed, you have the same rights as a Turkish citizen doing the same job.
This is not a favour. It is the legal standard.
Minimum wage & timely payment
- Minimum wage - Turkey has a national minimum wage revised annually. Foreign workers in skilled trades must be paid at least 1.5× this minimum; some roles require higher multiples.
- Payment in Turkish Lira - wages are paid in TRY, through a Turkish bank account. Cash-only payment is a violation.
- Monthly payment - salary must be paid by the end of the month following the work month, at the latest. Most employers pay mid-month.
- Payslip - you are entitled to a monthly payslip showing gross, deductions, and net. Keep these.
- No deductions outside contract - your employer cannot deduct random amounts from your salary for "administration fees", "housing" (if housing is separately agreed), or similar. Only legal deductions (SGK, tax, stamp) apply.
Under Turkish law, you have the right to refuse to work if salary is more than 20 days late, without this being treated as resignation. You also have the right to terminate with cause and claim severance if salary is consistently delayed.
Working hours & overtime
- Weekly hours - 45 hours per week is the legal standard. Can be distributed unequally across days as long as total doesn't exceed 45.
- Daily maximum - 11 hours with breaks; exceptions for specific industries.
- Rest breaks - at least 15 minutes for 4-hour shifts, 30 minutes for 4-7.5 hours, 1 hour for longer shifts.
- Weekly rest - at least 24 consecutive hours per week.
- Overtime - paid at 1.5× your normal hourly rate. Capped at 270 hours per year except in specific cases.
- Night work - hours between 20:00 and 06:00 have extra protections.
Annual leave & public holidays
- Annual leave - after 1 year of service, minimum 14 working days. After 5 years, 20 days. After 15 years, 26 days.
- Public holidays - approximately 15 paid public holidays per year in Turkey, including both national and religious holidays (Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha).
- Leave timing - employer decides timing within reason; must allow leave within the leave year.
- Leave pay-out - unused leave on termination is paid out in cash.
Sick leave & health
- Sick leave - you can take sick leave with a medical report. SGK pays a daily sickness allowance starting from day 3.
- Health coverage - full SGK coverage gives you access to public healthcare on the same basis as Turkish citizens. Free primary care, subsidised prescriptions, hospitalisation covered.
- Workplace injury - fully covered by SGK occupational accident insurance. Long-term disability, death benefits included.
SGK - social security and what it covers
SGK (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu) is Turkey's social security institution. Your registration there (mandatory within 15 days of arrival) gives you:
- Health insurance - GSS, general health insurance.
- Pension contributions - accumulate with every month worked.
- Unemployment insurance - contribution made; benefits have eligibility rules.
- Occupational accident & illness insurance - full coverage for work injuries.
- Maternity / paternity benefits - applicable if family is registered.
Pension contributions accumulate. On permanent departure from Turkey, foreign workers from non-agreement countries can apply for a lump-sum refund of their pension contributions (though this forfeits the right to receive a Turkish pension later).
Occupational safety & health
- PPE - employer must provide and maintain appropriate personal protective equipment at no cost to the worker.
- Training - mandatory safety training at hire and periodically thereafter.
- Right to refuse unsafe work - you can refuse to perform work that poses a serious and imminent danger without this being grounds for termination.
- Incident reporting - employers must report workplace accidents to SGK and to the labour inspectorate.
- Workplace inspection - labour inspectors may visit unannounced. You have the right to report unsafe conditions anonymously.
Termination & severance
- Notice periods - based on tenure: 2 weeks for under 6 months; 4 weeks for 6-18 months; 6 weeks for 18-36 months; 8 weeks for over 36 months.
- Severance pay - after 1 year of continuous service, you're entitled to severance pay equal to 30 days of your last gross salary per year of service, capped at a statutory ceiling.
- Just-cause termination - specific grounds (theft, serious misconduct) allow immediate termination without notice or severance. Must be well-documented.
- Wrongful termination - if the employer terminates without valid cause, you can claim severance, unused leave pay-out, and in some cases reinstatement.
- Your own resignation - you can resign with appropriate notice; no severance unless you resign for cause (unpaid wages, harassment, breach of contract).
Protection against harassment & discrimination
- Equal treatment - discrimination on nationality, religion, or ethnicity is prohibited.
- No withholding of passport - your passport is your property. Employers cannot legally take it from you. This is sometimes done informally; it's illegal and you can reclaim it.
- Protection against mobbing - systematic harassment at work is actionable.
- Fair contract enforcement - contract terms cannot be unilaterally changed to your disadvantage.
Under no circumstances are you required to give your passport to your employer for "safekeeping". If you are asked, politely decline. If pressured, that is itself a violation and reason to contact the labour inspectorate.
How to complain if rights are violated
In order of escalation:
- Direct discussion - usually the first step. Many issues are simple misunderstandings.
- HR or management - escalate internally.
- Provincial Labour Directorate (Çalışma ve İş Kurumu) - file a complaint. Inspectors will investigate. File form available at the directorate or online via e-Devlet.
- Turkish Labour Court (İş Mahkemesi) - for disputes requiring legal resolution. Legal aid may be available.
- SGK complaint line - for social security specific issues (unregistered, contributions not paid).
- ALO 170 - national labour hotline for general reporting.
Complaints can be filed in Turkish. If you don't speak enough Turkish, bring someone who does, or request an interpreter at the labour directorate - they are available.
Consular support from Pakistan
Pakistani citizens in Turkey can reach:
- Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara - primary diplomatic representation.
- Consulate General of Pakistan in Istanbul - covers Istanbul and Marmara region, where most Pakistani workers live.
- Consulate in Izmir - covers Aegean region.
Services available:
- Emergency consular assistance (accident, death, detention).
- Passport renewal and NADRA services.
- Labour dispute support, though formal resolution is through Turkish labour system.
- Help during repatriation if contract ends unexpectedly or in emergency.
Keep the embassy / consulate phone numbers saved in your phone from day one.