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Guide · Working time in Turkey

Overtime in Turkey: rules and pay for employers

Overtime in Turkey is work beyond 45 hours a week, paid at 150% of the hourly rate and capped at 270 hours a year. Employees must also agree to it in writing. This guide explains the rules under Labour Law No. 4857, shows a worked pay calculation and lists the points international employers most often miss.

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Labour Law, Articles 41 and 63

Four numbers that define overtime in Turkey

45 hoursMaximum standard working week
150%Pay rate for each overtime hour
270 hoursAnnual overtime cap per employee
11 hoursMaximum working time in a day

How Turkish law defines overtime

Turkish law measures overtime by the week, not the day. A 10-hour day is not overtime by itself if the weekly total stays within 45 hours. The law also separates two categories, each with its own premium.

OvertimeExtra hours
When it appliesWork beyond 45 hours a weekWhere the contract sets fewer than 45 hours, work above the contract hours up to 45
PayHourly rate plus 50%Hourly rate plus 25%
Time off instead of pay1 hour 30 minutes per hour worked1 hour 15 minutes per hour worked

Example: an employee contracted for 40 hours works 48 hours in a week. The 5 hours between 40 and 45 are extra hours at +25%. The 3 hours above 45 are overtime at +50%.

Worked pay calculation

In practice the hourly rate is the monthly gross salary divided by 225 (30 days × 7.5 hours). Using the 2026 gross minimum wage of TRY 33,030:

ItemCalculationGross amount
Hourly rate33,030 ÷ 225TRY 146.80
Overtime hour146.80 × 1.5TRY 220.20
Extra hour146.80 × 1.25TRY 183.50
10 overtime hours in a month220.20 × 10TRY 2,202

Overtime pay must appear as a separate item on the payroll and the employee's payslip.

Common gaps

Where global overtime policies clash with Turkish law

Policies written for other countries often miss these local requirements.

Written consent

Overtime requires the employee's written consent, kept in the personnel file. Employees can withdraw consent with 30 days' written notice. Consent is not required in emergencies.

The 270-hour cap

Total overtime cannot exceed 270 hours a year. Without cumulative tracking per employee, busy teams pass the cap unnoticed.

Protected groups

Employees under 18, pregnant, recently delivered or breastfeeding employees, part-time staff and those with a medical report against it cannot work overtime.

Night work

Overtime is not allowed in work performed during the night period, or in jobs limited to 7.5 hours a day for health reasons.

Time off in lieu

If the employee chooses time off instead of pay, it must be given within 6 months, during working hours and without loss of pay.

Time records

The employer must keep a signed record of overtime hours in the personnel file. Without records, the employer has little to rely on in a dispute.

Averaging working time (denkleştirme)

Turkish law allows working hours to be averaged. If both sides agree, the 45 weekly hours can be distributed unevenly across the week. Where averaging applies, weeks above 45 hours are not overtime as long as the weekly average over two months stays within 45 hours. A collective agreement can extend the period to four months. Daily working time can never exceed 11 hours.

Averaging suits businesses with seasonal peaks, but the averaging period and the hours in each week need to be documented.

Can overtime be included in the salary?

Turkish courts generally accept a contract clause stating that overtime pay is included in the monthly salary, but only up to 270 hours a year. Overtime above that must be paid separately. Review such clauses with local counsel.

Overtime compliance checklist for Turkey

  • Confirm written overtime consent is on file for every employee who works overtime.
  • Track cumulative overtime per employee and flag anyone approaching 270 hours.
  • Apply +25% and +50% separately for employees contracted below 45 hours.
  • Track the 6-month window for employees who choose time off in lieu.
  • Block overtime for protected groups in shift planning.
  • Show overtime as a separate line on payroll and payslips.
  • Check group policies and global HR systems for daily overtime rules that do not fit Turkey.
With Teamso

Overtime from request to payroll in one flow

Overtime management

Requests, approvals and annual limit tracking. Overtime package

Time and attendance

Overtime hours are calculated from attendance data. Attendance package

Payroll

Approved hours flow into payroll at the correct premium. Payroll package

Frequently asked questions

How is overtime paid in Turkey?
Each hour above 45 hours a week is paid at the normal hourly rate plus 50%. The hourly rate is usually the monthly gross salary divided by 225. At the 2026 gross minimum wage, one overtime hour is TRY 220.20 gross.
What is the annual overtime limit in Turkey?
Under Labour Law No. 4857, total overtime cannot exceed 270 hours in a year.
Is daily overtime recognised in Turkey?
No. Overtime is calculated weekly, based on the 45-hour limit. Working time in a single day still cannot exceed 11 hours.
Can employees refuse overtime?
Yes. Overtime requires the employee's written consent, and consent can be withdrawn with 30 days' written notice. Consent is not required in emergencies.

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