Turkey extends layoff ban for another two months

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In effect since April 2020 amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the layoff ban has been extended for another two months.

According to a Presidential decree published in the Official Gazette today (March 9), employers will be barred from dismissing their employees for 2 months as of March 17 as per the Labor Law.

Sharing a message on Twitter, Minister of Family, Labor and Social Services Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk has said, "We are keeping our measures in place to protect employment in the normalization process. With the decision of our Mr. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we are extending the Money Wage Support and Termination Restriction for a period of 2 months."

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Ban took effect in April 2020

With a provisional article added to the Labor Law no. 4857 on April 16, 2020, employers were banned from terminating labor or service contracts for three months, except for the situations incompatible with good morals and good will, expiration of the period indicated in the labor or service contracts, termination of activities of the workplace and the end of work.

The provisional article also introduced a legal framework for employers' putting their employees on unpaid leave for three months.

As per the Provisional Article 10/4 of the Labor Law, President is authorized to extend the three-month period indicated in the first and second clauses of the article for three months at most until June 30, 2021. (TP/SD)