Türkiye: Alternative Adjustments Regarding Weekly Rest Days has been Introduced for Employees Working in the Tourism Sector
Authors: Ipek Unlu Tik and A. Kaan Baser
The Law Amending Certain Laws and Decrees has been published in the Official Gazette dated 14 July 2025 and numbered 32956, and brought an alternative adjustment regarding the weekly rest days of employees working in the tourism sector.
The Law Amending Certain Laws and Decrees (“Amendment Law”) has been published in the Official Gazette dated 14 July 2025 and numbered 32956.
Prior to the amendment, Article 46 of the Employment Code numbered 4857 stated that the weekly rest days must be granted as an uninterrupted 24-hour period within a 7-day period. To give an example, employers in Turkey are principally under the obligation to allow an employee to have a day off on the 7th day if such employee has worked for 6 days.
With the new provision introduced to the same Article 46 of the Employment Code by the Amendment Law, employees working in accommodation facilities holding a tourism operation license issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism may now use their weekly rest days within 4 days following the date on which it is earned, on the condition that employees provide their consents. Therefore, if an employee approves the employer’s request, such employee can work for 10 days and use their weekly day off on the 11th day.
Furthermore, it is stipulated that works performed during this period shall not be considered as overtime to the extent it does not exceed the standard daily working time.
Lastly, it is stated that employees may withdraw their consents by providing the employer with 30 days’ prior written notice.
Key Points
- The Law Amending Certain Laws and Decrees (“Amendment Law”) has been published in the Official Gazette.
- Employers are principally obliged to grant an uninterrupted 24-hour period to their employees as a weekly day off, within a 7-day period.
- With the new provision introduced by the Amendment Law, employees working in the tourism sector may use their weekly day off on the 11th day instead of the 7th day.
- Employees must provide their consents, and they may withdraw their consents with a 30 days’ prior written notice.
