| The Law No. 7578 on Labour Law Matters (the “Law”), which introduces significant amendments to labour legislation, was published in the Official Gazette dated 1 May 2026 and numbered 33240. The Law primarily revises various statutory provisions concerning parental rights, with a particular focus on maternity leave entitlements. The key amendments are summarised below for your information. |
| Current Framework as of 1 May 2026: |
| · Under the amendments introduced by the Law, the postnatal maternity leave period for female employees has been extended from 8 weeks to 16 weeks, while the 8-week prenatal leave period remains unchanged, resulting in a total maternity leave entitlement of 24 weeks. |
| · The regulation further introduces greater flexibility regarding the period during which employees may continue working prior to birth. While the previous framework allowed employees to work up to 3 weeks before delivery, the amended regime reduces this period to 2 weeks, thereby effectively extending the postnatal leave period available to employees. |
| · The Law also expands parental leave entitlements. In this respect, the paternity leave period for private sector employees has been increased from 5 days to 10 days, while the existing 10-day entitlement for public sector employees remains unchanged. |
| · In addition, in cases of adoption, the Law increases the leave entitlement granted to female or male employees to 8 weeks of paid leave. The regulation further strengthens the legal framework by introducing additional leave rights for foster families responsible for the care and protection of children. |
| Transitional Framework Prior to 1 May 2026: |
| · The Law establishes a specific transitional mechanism in relation to the amendments to maternity leave entitlements. |
| · Employees falling within this scope are entitled to an additional 8 weeks of maternity leave, provided that they submit a request within 10 working days. |
| · The aforementioned 10-working-day period constitutes a statute of limitation period. |
| The amendments require employers not only to ensure compliance with the increased maternity leave entitlements but also to comprehensively restructure their human resources processes. |
| Accordingly, employers are strongly advised to review and update their internal policies. |
| The full text of the Law is accessible at: https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2026/05/20260501-1.htm Yours faithfully, |
