Labour and Social Security Law
Information on employment disputes, severance pay, reinstatement, SGK pension matters and foreign service credit under Turkish law, for workers in Şanlıurfa.
Labour law (iş hukuku) governs the relationship between employers and employees, from the employment contract to termination. Social security law (sosyal güvenlik hukuku) concerns registration with the Social Security Institution (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu, SGK), insurance periods, pensions and benefits after work accidents.
This area is relevant for employees and employers in Turkey, and also for people who have worked both in Turkey and abroad and want their insurance periods taken into account for a Turkish pension.
Scope of services
- Claims for severance pay (kıdem tazminatı) and notice pay (ihbar tazminatı)
- Unpaid wages, overtime, annual leave and holiday pay
- Reinstatement claims (işe iade davası) after unlawful termination
- Mandatory mediation (arabuluculuk) in employment disputes
- Determination of unregistered or missing insurance periods (hizmet tespit davası)
- Pension (emeklilik) applications and objections to SGK decisions
- Purchasing periods of service abroad (yurt dışı hizmet borçlanması)
- Compensation after work accidents and occupational diseases
- Drafting employment contracts and workplace regulations for employers
How does the process work?
- The employment history, contract, payslips and SGK records are reviewed.
- Claims and possible deadlines are calculated and explained.
- For most employment claims, an application to mediation is made first.
- If no agreement is reached, a lawsuit is filed before the labour court (iş mahkemesi) and evidence such as witness statements and expert calculations is followed.
- After judgment, collection through enforcement proceedings is pursued where necessary.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to go to mediation before suing my employer?
For claims such as severance pay, notice pay, wages and reinstatement, applying to a mediator is a precondition for filing a lawsuit. Claims arising from work accidents and occupational diseases are an exception.
What is the deadline for a reinstatement claim?
An application to mediation must be made within one month of the notice of termination. If mediation fails, the lawsuit must be filed within a short period after the final mediation report, so prompt action is important.
I worked in Germany for many years. Can this count towards a Turkish pension?
Turkish citizens and former citizens holding a Blue Card (Mavi Kart) can, under certain conditions, purchase their periods of residence or work abroad (borçlanma) and count them towards a Turkish pension. The Social Security Agreement between Turkey and Germany may also allow periods to be combined. Documents from the foreign pension insurer, translated by a sworn translator, are usually needed.
For questions about an employment or pension matter, please use our contact page.