Turkey offers a large, young, cost-competitive workforce bridging Europe and Asia, with a distinctive statutory severance system. All-in employer cost runs around 1.23x the gross salary. Here is what to know before your first Turkish hire.
Employment runs under the Labour Law, with written contracts and mandatory SGK social-security registration. A statutory severance pay (kıdem tazminatı) accrues at about a month's salary per year of service.
The net minimum wage is about TRY 17,002 per month in 2024*, revised frequently given inflation, and it sets a high floor for contributions.
Monthly payroll. There is no statutory 13th salary, though bonuses are common by contract or sector.
Around 14 to 15 public-holiday days a year, including national and religious dates.
Written contracts are standard. Probation is up to two months (extendable by collective agreement).
Employer SGK contributions add roughly 20-23% on top of gross salary (lower with the standard incentive), plus a statutory severance accrual on top.
Statutory severance is roughly 30 days' pay per year of service, subject to a legal ceiling per year, payable after one year of service.
Employees pay their SGK share plus income and stamp tax, withheld at source. Withholding is the employer's responsibility, which under EOR means ours.
14 to 26 paid days a year depending on tenure (more for longer service and older workers).
16 weeks of maternity leave (eight before and eight after birth), funded through SGK.
Five days of paid paternity leave.
Paid through SGK after a waiting period, with a medical report.
Notice runs from two to eight weeks by tenure. Employers with 30 or more staff need a valid reason and process for dismissal (job security).
Statutory severance of about a month's pay per year of service is due after one year, subject to the annual ceiling.
Up to two months, extendable by collective agreement, with free termination during it.
A contractor working like an employee can be reclassified, with back SGK contributions and severance liability.
*All figures are estimates from public sources (2025-26), pending ops verification - same basis as the EOR cost calculator. Not tax or legal advice.
Compliant Turkish employment contract, payroll, SGK, and severance, handled. One invoice, flat $399 per month.