Employment Regulations For Turkish-Descended Communities
Employment Regulations For Turkish-Descended Communities : Positive Discrimination Has Been İntroduced For Turkish-descended Communities By Official Gazette No. 33043 Dated Friday, 10 October 2025.
WHAT DOES THIS LEGISLATION ENTAIL?
With the amended legıslatıon provision, the conditions required for Turkish-origin foreigners to obtain work and employment permits have been concretised, and the administrative authority responsible for issuing permits has been changed.
WHAT IS ITS SCOPE?
Determination of Turkish Ethnicity
The communities of Turkish ethnicity that will be designated as foreigners of Turkish ethnicity under the relevant law and by-law are determined by Presidential Decree.
It should be noted that this by-law is not intended for foreigners who are not of Turkish ethnicity, but rather constitutes a regulation in favour of communities of Turkish ethnicity.
WHAT IS THE ISSUE?
Previous by-law , work permits for foreign nationals of Turkish descent to work or be employed in certain professions, arts and occupations were issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, subject to the fulfilment of the conditions set out in the laws and the opinions of the relevant ministries, namely the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It should be noted that the abstract expressions in the Previous by-law caused problems in terms of administrative clarity and confusion of authority.
Previous by-law redefines the status of persons assessed under Law No. 2527, the application processes and the competent authorities.
Conditions Specified In The By-law That Has Entered Into Force;
1-Residence permit: Must be obtained from the Ministry of the Interior.
2-Professional competence: Documents required for the profession or art must be submitted.
3-Diploma equivalence: Equivalence of foreign diplomas must be approved in Turkey.
4- No security impediment.
5- Population registration: Must be registered in special registers for foreigners.
6- Membership of a professional organisation: Must be proven with documentation if required.
7- Apprenticeship/Mastery certificates: Equivalence must be approved by the relevant institution.
8- Belonging to a Turkish ethnic group identified by Presidential Decree.
9- Being unable to practise their profession in their country or being forced to continue their life in Turkey for compelling reasons.
10- Having an ethnic-cultural identity different from the majority of their own country.
WHAT IS THE NEW REGULATION?
Article 2/a, newly added to the By-law, clearly stipulates that the communities of Turkish descent that will be determined as having foreign status of Turkish descent will be identified by a PRESIDENTIAL DECREE.
The By-Law That Has Entered Into Force specify the necessary conditions for this matter, thereby removing abstract expressions and establishing a concrete basis.
This regulation has been introduced to provide clarity on the legal path and to ensure administrative control.
Furthermore, this regulation has clarified the path to employment in the country for foreigners of Turkish descent and has created a bridge between foreigners of Turkish descent and the labour market in the country.
PURPOSE AND RESULT: WHAT DOES IT PROVIDE?
Legal clarity and administrative convenience.
An open path for the employment of foreigners of Turkish descent in Turkey.
A bridge is being built between the labour market and communities of Turkish descent.
Positive discrimination provides social support based on historical and cultural ties.
