All About Employee Leave & PTO in Turkey
Learn what you need to know about leave requirements in Turkey and how Justworks EOR can help you streamline hiring.
How an EOR Can Help with Employee Leave & PTO
Before hiring in Turkey, it’s important for employers to understand the country’s rules around paid vacation and employee leave. Justworks makes this easier by offering end-to-end support through our global employer of record (EOR) services. We help you create leave policies that align with Turkish labor laws and match local expectations for paid time off. From local leave entitlements to broader HR needs, Justworks is your reliable partner for smooth and compliant hiring in Turkey.
Employee Leave & PTO Expectations in Turkey
Employees in Turkey are entitled to receive time off for public holidays, maternity and paternity leave, vacation leave, sick leave, and certain other leaves of absence.
Vacation Leave
In Turkey, the paid annual leave depends on an employee’s years of service. Employees are entitled to a minimum of 14 days for one to five years of service, 20 days for more than five but less than 15 years, and 26 days for 15 years or more. Employees under 18 or over 50 must receive at least 20 days of paid leave. These are minimum requirements and can be extended by mutual agreement.
Annual leave must be paid at the employee’s basic wage. Employers are required to pay the full amount for the leave period either in advance or as a lump sum before the leave begins.
Sick Leave
If an employee is medically certified as unfit to work, the employer must cover their wages for the first two days of absence. Starting from the third day, a temporary disability allowance is paid by the Social Security Institution, provided the employee has met the required insurance contribution period under the Social Security and General Health Insurance Law. This allowance can be deducted from the monthly wage of salaried employees.
Paternity Leave
Male employees expecting a baby with their spouse are entitled to five days of paid leave following birth.
Maternity Leave
In Turkey, female employees generally aren’t permitted to work for eight weeks before and eight weeks after giving birth. For multiple births (twins), two weeks of leave are allowed before the due date. During maternity leave, employees typically receive a disability allowance from the Social Security Institution, equal to two-thirds of their reported income. Employers aren’t required to pay an employee’s full salary during maternity leave, but some choose to as an added perk.
After maternity leave, employees are entitled to up to six months of unpaid leave, if requested. Upon request, female employees must be granted part-time unpaid leave following maternity leave. This allows them to reduce their working hours by up to 50% each week for 60 days after their first child is born, 120 days after their second, and 180 days for any additional children. In cases of multiple births, 30 extra days are added. If the child is born with a disability, the period may be extended to 360 days.
Other Types of Leave
Employees in Turkey are entitled to various types of paid leave for personal and family-related events, including:
Bereavement: Three days for the death of a parent, spouse, sibling, or child
Marriage: Three days
Adoption: Three days upon adoption of a child
Family Medical Reasons: Up to 10 days paid leave per year for parents of a child with at least 70% disability or a chronic illness, for treatment purposes (with a medical report)
Job Protection for Military Service: Following compulsory military duty, employers must re-hire employees within two months of returning if a suitable role is available or pay three months' salary if not
Public Holidays in Turkey
There are nine paid holidays in Turkey which include:
Republic Day – 29 October (starting from the second half of 28 October, 1.5 days)
National Independence and Children's Day – 23 April
Labour Day – 1 May
Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day – 19 May
Democracy and National Solidarity Day – 15 July
Victory Day – 30 August
Ramadan/Eid – Variable, 3.5 days
Sacrifice/Eid – Variable, 4.5 days
New Year's Day – 1 January
Ready to Hire Confidently in Turkey?
Build your global team seamlessly with local experts who can help you understand the local labor market while saving you the time and hassle of hiring in Turkey.
