Turkey’s parliament has approved a controversial labor law amendment allowing tourism workers in certified facilities to delay their mandatory weekly day of rest, with the legislation published in the Official Gazette on Monday.
Critics say the change undermines constitutional rights and promotes exploitation in one of the country’s key economic sectors.
The change revises Article 46 of Labor Law No. 4857 through Law No. 7553. It allows employees at facilities possessing a tourism certificate from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to defer their 24-hour weekly rest break — normally granted after six consecutive workdays — by up to four days, provided they consent in writing.
This arrangement permits work periods of up to 10 straight days, bypassing overtime pay for regular hours worked on the seventh day, as long as the 45-hour weekly cap is not exceeded. Employees can revoke their consent with one month’s written notice.
Under current labor law, workers are entitled to at least 24 hours of uninterrupted rest after six days of work. The amendment introduces an exception specifically for the tourism industry, justified by the government as a measure to accommodate peak seasonal demand. However, labor advocates argue it weakens essential protections.
Prof. Dr. Aziz Çelik, a social policy expert, criticized the amendment on X on July 14, warning that it enables a “10-day work week and 11-hour workday.” He described the measure as advancing “slavery” conditions in the sector by stretching rest periods, removing overtime payments and violating the principles of fairness, rest and International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions ratified by Turkey.
“In a country where the tourism minister is also a tourism industry executive, this is no surprise,” Çelik wrote, calling for the Constitutional Court to annul the amendment and cautioning that it could set a dangerous precedent for other sectors. He noted that Turkey’s labor laws already allow 11-hour workdays in tourism.
Gökhan Aslan, general secretary of the Dev Turizm-İş union, affiliated with the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), told the Bianet news website that the amendment marks a significant setback for labor rights. “This regulation, which was passed in haste, seriously harms the constitutional right to rest,” Aslan said. He called it a “direct concession to employers” that could worsen job insecurity and increase workplace accidents in the industry.
Supporters of the law, including government officials and the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK), argue that the measure is necessary to meet the seasonal demands of tourism. They say the optional system offers operational flexibility, improves competitiveness in the global market and gives employees the opportunity to combine rest days into longer breaks during slower periods.
Critics have pointed to the dual role of Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, who founded the major travel agency ETS Tur and operates the Maxx Royal and Voyage hotel chains. Aslan said Ersoy’s position reflects a conflict of interest. “As a minister who comes from the industry as an owner, he consciously and deliberately supports these regulations that are against the workers,” he said.
Turkey hosted 52.6 million foreign visitors in 2024, a 7 percent increase from the previous year, generating $61.1 billion in revenue and surpassing pre-pandemic levels. İstanbul and Antalya remain top destinations, and the sector employs more than 1.5 million people.