New Labor and Social Security Regulations in Turkey (2025): What Should Employers and Employees Know?
Turkey's New 2025 Labor and Social Security Laws: What Every Employer and Employee Must Know
New Labor and Social Security Regulations in Turkey (2025): What Should Employers and Employees Know?
1. Will tourism sector employees get flexible weekly leave?
Yes, under the proposed amendment to Article 46 of Labor Law No. 4857, tourism sector employees can now use their weekly leave flexibly within a 10-day period instead of strictly within 7 days, provided they submit a written request and receive approval.
Key Details:
Applies to accommodation facilities licensed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Leave can be deferred but must be used within the 10-day period.
Overtime pay applies only if daily legal working hours are exceeded.
The employee can revoke their approval with 30 days' written notice.
2. Who will now impose administrative fines in labor inspections?
Under the proposed amendment to Article 108 of Labor Law No. 4857, the authority to impose administrative fines will be transferred to Provincial Directors of the Labor and Employment Agency instead of previous structures.
For employers operating in multiple provinces:
- The authority will belong to the Provincial Directorate where the workplace's headquarters is located.
3. Can employers notify employees through KEP instead of physical signatures?
Yes, under the new proposal, notifications to employees (except for termination notices) can be made via Registered Electronic Mail (KEP) if the employee consents in writing.
Key Points:
Notifications via KEP will have the same legal effect as written notifications.
KEP costs will be covered by the employer.
Official notifications under the Notification Law will continue under current procedures.
This aims to digitize employers' documentation, sending, and storage obligations.
4. What new reporting obligations will private employment agencies have?
Private employment agencies will now be required to electronically report job postings and the data of referred candidates to the Turkish Employment Agency (ISKUR) in a specified format.
Penalties for non-compliance:
First: Written warning.
If not resolved within 7 days: 136,190 TL administrative fine.
If repeated within the same year: 272,380 TL fine.
Implementation Date: 1 January 2026.
5. How will social security applications from abroad be simplified?
Turkish citizens living abroad will be able to handle certain SGK procedures through Turkish Labor and Social Security Ministry attachés and counsellors abroad.
The specific applications and procedures will be detailed in a regulation to be issued by the Ministry, facilitating access to the social security system for Turkish citizens abroad.
6. Who will set the principles for minimum pension payments?
The proposal delegates the authority to set the procedures and principles regarding minimum pensions for retirees and beneficiaries to the Social Security Institution (SGK).
This will allow SGK to introduce flexibility based on evolving needs in minimum pension payments.
Table: Key Proposed Changes at a Glance
| Regulation Area | Proposed Change |
| Tourism sector weekly leave | Flexible use within 10 days with written request |
| Administrative fines | Authority shifted to Provincial Directors of ISKUR |
| Employee notifications | KEP allowed with employee consent |
| Private employment agencies | New electronic reporting obligations |
| Social security applications abroad | Simplified through attachés and counsellors |
| Minimum pensions | SGK to determine principles |
Conclusion & CTA
If the "Amendment Proposal on Certain Laws and Decree Law No. 375" becomes law:
Employers will face new digital compliance and reporting obligations.
Employees in the tourism sector will benefit from increased leave flexibility.
Turkish citizens abroad will find it easier to manage social security processes.
Prepare your company and HR processes for these upcoming changes now to avoid administrative penalties and compliance issues.
Contact us for a compliance review and to digitize your HR processes in alignment with Turkey’s 2025 labor law updates.
