Turkey Employment Guide

Turkey is at the Eurasian crossroads, bordering Greece, Bulgaria (west), Georgia, Armenia, Iran (east), the Mediterranean (south) and the Black Sea (north). It has ~85 million people; Turkish is official, Ankara is the capital, and major economic hubs include Istanbul and Izmir. Its diversified economy values industry, services and agriculture, with textiles, auto manufacturing, electronics, tourism and export-oriented manufacturing having significant influence. Labor laws (per Turkish Labour Law) protect wages, hours, leave and social security. Standard workweek: 45 hours (overtime needs extra pay or time off). Salaries are usually monthly (avg. TRY 12,000 pre-tax). Laws cover paid leave and protect contract/temp workers, balancing interests for a fair, flexible labor market.

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Currency

Turkish Lira (TRY)

Capital

Ankara

Official language

Turkish

Salary Cycle

Monthly

Our Employment Guide in Turkey

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Essential Components of Turkish Employment Contracts

Employment agreements in Turkey must be drafted in Turkish, though bilingual versions are permissible. These contracts require written format with signatures from both employer and employee to be legally valid.

Comprehensive employment contracts should clearly specify:

Full legal names of both parties
Official commencement date
Duration of employment
Standard working hours and schedule
Detailed job responsibilities
Compensation structure and benefits package
Termination procedures and conditions

Understanding Probation Periods in Turkish Employment

While Turkish labor law doesn't mandate probation periods, incorporating them into employment contracts represents sound HR practice. Organizations like SailGlobal typically implement probationary terms to assess mutual compatibility.

The maximum probation period permitted under Turkish regulations is 60 days (approximately 2 months), while employers have flexibility to establish shorter durations based on role requirements and organizational policies.

International Best Practices

Multinational companies operating in Turkey, including SailGlobal, often combine local compliance with global HR standards. For instance, a technology firm might implement a 45-day probation period with weekly performance reviews, while manufacturing companies might opt for shorter 30-day assessments for production roles.

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