Independent work permits
The first question is from Alice. She asks about independent work permits.
“Dear Orhan, I am an Austrian and I work as a doctor in Austria. Can I work in Turkey as a doctor? What should I do for the work permit? Thank you for respond. Best regards.”
Dear Alice, three types of work permits are given in Turkey. These types are definite period, indefinite period and independent work permit (for more information about work permits, you can look at my article dated Dec. 12, 2009). However for foreigner doctors, obtaining a work permit is not enough to be able to legally work. In this regard there is a very important arrangement in Law Number 1219. According to this arrangement, non-Turkish citizens cannot work as a doctor in Turkey. So, without Turkish citizenship, you cannot work in Turkey as a doctor.
On the other hand, in very exceptional cases, some doctors can work without being a Turkish citizen. But in these cases, conditions such as diploma equivalency and an interview with a jury of professors are mandated. As a result, working in Turkey as a foreign doctor is very difficult, almost impossible.
Severance pay in Turkey
The second question is about severance pay. Jeanie asks:
“Hi Sadettin. Can you give me information about severance pay applications in Turkish law? Many thanks.”
Dear Jeanie, Severance pay is paid by employers as an award for the employees' loyalty and labor. But the payment of severance pay should come from the creation of certain conditions. The severance period and the form of the work contract’s end are important factors in one’s entitlement to severance pay. In order to gain severance pay rights, the employee must have been working in the same workplace for at least one year.
Severance pay is basically calculated based on the number of years spent at the workplace. For each full year from the start of work to the dismissal of the employee, the employee is entitled to the most recent 30 days’ wages. Payment shall be made pro rata for a portion of a year.
Regardless of your wage level, the upper limit of severance pay is 2,517.01 Turkish Liras per month for 2010. For example, assuming that you have worked for five years at the same place of work and the sum of your last salary was 3,000 liras, you can receive total severance pay of 12,585.05 liras.
UHI registration conditions
The third question is from Frady. He asks:
“Dear Sadettin,
I am 66 years old and my wife is 64. We receive U.K. government pensions and we have lived in Turkey for the last three years. Under these circumstances, do we have to take out Universal Health Insurance, or UHI? Best regards.”
Dear Frady,
The Turkey-U.K. social security treaty does not cover health insurance. Hence, you cannot use U.K. health insurance in Turkey. So, you can apply for Turkish UHI. According to Law No. 5510:
· If you are foreigner,
· If you are not insured in your country (or if your country’s health insurance is not valid in Turkey),
· If you have a residence permit,
· And if you have completed one year in Turkey,
Then you can be registered as UHI insured. The lowest premium amount is 182 liras. This premium is for both husband and wife.
For your questions: [email protected]
www.sadettiorhan.net
“Dear Orhan, I am an Austrian and I work as a doctor in Austria. Can I work in Turkey as a doctor? What should I do for the work permit? Thank you for respond. Best regards.”
Dear Alice, three types of work permits are given in Turkey. These types are definite period, indefinite period and independent work permit (for more information about work permits, you can look at my article dated Dec. 12, 2009). However for foreigner doctors, obtaining a work permit is not enough to be able to legally work. In this regard there is a very important arrangement in Law Number 1219. According to this arrangement, non-Turkish citizens cannot work as a doctor in Turkey. So, without Turkish citizenship, you cannot work in Turkey as a doctor.
On the other hand, in very exceptional cases, some doctors can work without being a Turkish citizen. But in these cases, conditions such as diploma equivalency and an interview with a jury of professors are mandated. As a result, working in Turkey as a foreign doctor is very difficult, almost impossible.
Severance pay in Turkey
The second question is about severance pay. Jeanie asks:
“Hi Sadettin. Can you give me information about severance pay applications in Turkish law? Many thanks.”
Dear Jeanie, Severance pay is paid by employers as an award for the employees' loyalty and labor. But the payment of severance pay should come from the creation of certain conditions. The severance period and the form of the work contract’s end are important factors in one’s entitlement to severance pay. In order to gain severance pay rights, the employee must have been working in the same workplace for at least one year.
Severance pay is basically calculated based on the number of years spent at the workplace. For each full year from the start of work to the dismissal of the employee, the employee is entitled to the most recent 30 days’ wages. Payment shall be made pro rata for a portion of a year.
Regardless of your wage level, the upper limit of severance pay is 2,517.01 Turkish Liras per month for 2010. For example, assuming that you have worked for five years at the same place of work and the sum of your last salary was 3,000 liras, you can receive total severance pay of 12,585.05 liras.
UHI registration conditions
The third question is from Frady. He asks:
“Dear Sadettin,
I am 66 years old and my wife is 64. We receive U.K. government pensions and we have lived in Turkey for the last three years. Under these circumstances, do we have to take out Universal Health Insurance, or UHI? Best regards.”
Dear Frady,
The Turkey-U.K. social security treaty does not cover health insurance. Hence, you cannot use U.K. health insurance in Turkey. So, you can apply for Turkish UHI. According to Law No. 5510:
· If you are foreigner,
· If you are not insured in your country (or if your country’s health insurance is not valid in Turkey),
· If you have a residence permit,
· And if you have completed one year in Turkey,
Then you can be registered as UHI insured. The lowest premium amount is 182 liras. This premium is for both husband and wife.
For your questions: [email protected]
www.sadettiorhan.net
