Population
85M
Currency
Yenmi Turk Lira (TRY)
Languages
Turkish
Capital
Ankara
Cost of Living
28.38 (US 69.92)
(US 69.92)
Time (UTC)
UTC + 3
Government
Parliamentary Republic

Hire in Turkey without an entity and fully compliant with local labor laws

Turkey is a geopolitical power and a newly industrialized country. According to nominal GDP, its economy is the twenty-fifth largest in the world, ranking among the rising and growth-leading economies.

The country's land area makes up about 113% of Texas' total land area, making it one of the largest countries in Asia and the 37th largest in the world.

Get to know Turkey

Turkey, situated between Asia and Europe, has functioned as a barrier and a bridge connecting the two continents. The surrounding sea and mountains covering a significant extent of the country contribute to the varied climate.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Turkey's labor force has grown the fastest among EU nations. It is now Europe's third-largest labor force, with about 33.3 million people. In addition, a substantial increase in the number of colleges has expanded their talent pool of globally competitive professionals.

The economy has shifted from primarily agricultural to industrial and service-oriented. Both the government and private firms contribute to economic progress. 

The World Bank classifies Turkey as a high-income economy with the following trade agreements and alliances: 

  • ADB - Asian Development Bank
  • G20 - Developing Nations
  • G20 - Group of Twenty
  • G33 - Forum for developing countries
  • NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization
  • OECD
  • OIC - Organization of Islamic Cooperation
  • OSZE
  • Turkic Council
  • UN - United Nations
  • UNESCO
  • WTO - World Trade Organization

“Must know” if you’re hiring in Turkey without an employer of record

Entity requirements
Mandatory hiring contracts & clauses
Different compliance risks for full-time vs. contractor employees
Mandatory probationary periods
Allowable working hours & overtime wage laws
Timecard and attendance records
Required employer payroll, labor insurance, and tax payments
Discrimination protection
Notices & termination regulations

Budgeting for Turkish employees

Hiring remote Turkish professionals is smart and economical, assuming you’re fully compliant with local tax, labor, and wage laws.
Employee Classification–Full-time vs Contractor

Full-time

  • Maximum of 45 hours of work per week
  • Fixed salary
  • Standard work hours
  • Benefits and paid leave

Contractor

  • Trial Period of two to three months
  • Flexible working hours
  • Salary depends on task or project
  • No benefits or paid leave

Employment Contracts

The employment contract should include the following:

  • General and specific working conditions
  • Work periods
  • Wage and additional payments
  • Time of payment
  • Duration of contract 
  • Conditions for termination

Probation Period

Two months

Standard Working Hours & Overtime
  • Eight to 10 hours per day
  • 45 hours per week
  • Workday overtime = 150% of regular wage
  • Weekend/holiday overtime = 200% of regular wage

Payroll Frequency

Monthly

Wages & Bonuses
  • Minimum monthly wage = $347.126
  • 13th month pay

USD equivalent median salaries based on Role:

  • Data Scientist: $19,702
  • Electrical Engineer: $30,535
  • Hardware Engineer: $18,180
  • IT Manager: $30,966
  • Mobile Developer: $15,734
  • Product Manager: $17,327
  • Project Manager: $51,010
  • QA Engineer: $43,537
  • Software Engineer: $30,459
  • System Administrator: $26,941
  • UX Designer: $27,180
  • Web Developer: $25,156

Payroll Taxes & Employer Contributions
  • 2% Short Term Insurance Branch Premium
  • 11% Pension & Disability
  • 2% Unemployment Insurance
  • 15% - 40% Employee Income Tax

Benefits

Health Insurance 

  • 7.5% General Health Insurance

Paid leave

Maternity 

  • First child = 60 days
  • Second child = 120 days 
  • More than two children = 180 days

Paternity 

  • Five days

Vacation/PTO days

  • One to five years = 14 days 
  • Five to 15 years = 20 days 
  • More than 15 years = 26 days

Sick Days

  • Seven days

Additional Leave

  • Bereavement Leave = three days
  • Military Leave = 90 days

Additional Benefits

  • Pension allowance
  • Health insurance allowance
  • Meal allowance

Holidays

Turkey celebrates 18 national (public) holidays and multiple observances a year. 

The most important fixed date holidays are:

  • New Year's Day (January 1) 
  • National Sovereignty & Children's Day (April 23)
  • Labor and Solidarity Day (May 1)
  • Atatürk Commemoration, Youth & Sports Day (May 19)
  • Democracy & National Unity Day (July 15)
  • Victory Day (August 30)
  • Republic Day (October 28-29)

Termination & Severance

Notice Period

  • Zero to six months of service = two weeks
  • Six to 18 months of service = four weeks
  • 18 – 36 months of service = six weeks
  • More than 36 months = eight weeks

Severance Pay

  • Under Turkish Labor Law, employees are entitled to severance pay upon completing one year with the same employer.
  • Calculated as the monthly wage multiplied by each completed year of employment.

And a few fun facts about Turkey…

  • St. Nicholas, the real-life inspiration for Santa Claus, was born around 300 AD in Patara, Turkey.
  • The Galata bridge connects the east bank of Istanbul in Asia to the west bank in Europe. 
  • As you bid your Turkish friends farewell, they may throw a bucket of water at you to wish you a happy return.
  • The world's oldest shipwreck was discovered and excavated in Uluburun, a village near Turkey's Mediterranean coast.
  • UNESCO has designated 13 locations in Turkey as World Heritage Sites, with an additional 62 on the tentative list.

Get free advice from a global workforce expert!

Phew…this is a lot of information to process! Thanks for reading Worcapedia. Ideally, you’re better informed, and more confident about global hiring.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.