The Communique Regarding Proffesions Subject to the Requirement for a Professional Competency Cerificate (2026/1) Has Been Published 11 May 2026
With the "Communiqué Regarding Occupations Subject to the Mandatory Professional Competency Certificate by the Professional Competency Authority," dated March 23, 2026, and published in the Official Gazette No. 33202, the requirement to hold a Professional Competency Certificate has been expanded to include certain occupations classified as hazardous or highly hazardous
|
Occupational Groups Covered by the Communiqué |
|
Upon examination of the list of occupations annexed to the Communiqué, it is observed that the scope of occupational groups subject to the obligation to hold a Vocational Qualification Certificate has been expanded. In line with current technological developments and sectoral transformations, it is noteworthy that new occupations - particularly in fields such as electric vehicle technologies and renewable energy systems - have been incorporated into the scope of the regulation. |
|
Persons Exempt from the Obligation to Hold a Vocational Qualification Certificate |
|
No certification requirement is imposed on certain individuals: Under the Vocational Education Act No. 3308, individuals holding a master craftsman certificate, graduates of vocational and technical education institutions affiliated with the Ministry of National Education and relevant departments of universities, and individuals who obtained a course completion certificate approved by the Ministry of National Education prior to January 1, 2022, and are currently working in the relevant field will not be required to provide a Vocational Competency Certificate. |
|
Implementation and Obligations |
|
Although the Communiqué entered into force on the date of its publication, a 12-month transition period has been provided for employers to comply (Article 3). Accordingly, the requirement for a Certificate of Professional Competence in the occupations covered by the Communiqué will be effectively implemented as of March 23, 2027. |
|
Certification Requirement |
|
ARTICLE 3 - "(1) In occupations classified as hazardous or highly hazardous, for which standards have been published by the Vocational Qualifications Authority and which are listed in the attached schedule, individuals who do not hold a Vocational Qualifications Certificate issued by the Vocational Qualifications Authority and who are not exempt from the relevant certification may not be employed twelve months after the date of publication of this Communiqué." |
|
Employers may not hire employees without the required certification in the professions covered by this Communiqué; otherwise, they will face administrative penalties (Article 4). |
|
Penalties |
|
ARTICLE 4- (1) Inspections regarding Article 3 shall be conducted by labor inspectors. The provisions of the fourth paragraph of Article 1 of the Annex to Law No. 5544 shall apply to employers or their representatives who act in violation of the provisions of this Communiqué. |
|
Accordingly, the provincial director of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security shall impose an administrative fine on employers and their representatives who violate this Communiqué for each employee. |
|
You can access the full text of the Communiqué via the link below: |
|
https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/ eskiler/ 2026/ 03/ 20260323-7.htm |
Other News
-
2.6.2026
Designation of Critical Infrastructure Sectors Under Cybersecurity Law No. 7545 and Key Compliance Obligations
Cybersecurity Law No. 7545, which introduces comprehensive and far-reaching rules governing cybersecurity in Türkiye, was enacted on 12 March 2025. The Law regulates the powers of the Cybersecurity Authority, the rules to be observed by public institutions and private companies, supervisory mechanisms, and applicable sanctions.
-
25.5.2026
Does Your 2025 Balance Sheet Trigger a VERBIS Obligation? Deadline Set for 5 June 2026
The Personal Data Protection Authority ("Authority") has published an important announcement regarding corporate taxpayer legal entity data controllers that have become subject to the obligation to register with the Data Controllers' Registry ("VERBIS") due to the criteria relating to the 2025 financial balance sheet total. Within the scope of the announcement, the period granted for the fulfillment of the VERBIS registration and notification obligation has been extended until Friday, 5 June 2026.
-
22.5.2026
The Competiton Authority Has Updated Its Merger And Acquisition Guidelines: What Has Changed For Trancastion Parties?
There have been significant developments in the field of mergers and acquisitions in recent times. The Competition Authority has implemented a comprehensive update process with the aim of making the regulatory framework in this area clearer and more predictable. This process, which began with the amendments to the Communiqué No. 2026/2 on the Amendment to the Communiqué on Mergers and Acquisitions Requiring the Approval of the Competition Board (Communiqué No. 2010/4) in February 2026, has entered a new phase with the updated guidelines published in May 2026.
-
20.5.2026
A New Approach to the Limits of the Institution of Amendment of Pleadings: Unification of Judgments Decision
1. INTRODUCTION By its decision dated 08.05.2026, the Grand General Assembly for the Unification of Judgments of the Court of Cassation explicitly ruled that a claim not initially included in the statement of claim cannot subsequently be introduced into the action by way of "partial amendment".
-
13.5.2026
Significant Amendments to Temporary Incapacity Periods for Maternity under the Social Security Institution
Extension of Maternity Leave Periods under Circular No. 2026/13: With the Circular dated 08.05.2026 and numbered 2026/13 issued by the Social Security Institution (“SSI”), the implementation of temporary incapacity benefits under maternity insurance within the scope of the Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510 has been updated. The aforementioned amendments have been introduced in line with Law No. 7578, which entered into force on 01.05.2026. These regulations include new provisions that are particularly significant for employers and employees, especially with respect to the extension of postnatal rest periods and the transitional rules applicable to existing medical reports.
-
4.5.2026
Significant Changes in the Workplace: Maternity Leave Periods Revised
Law No. 7578, amending the Social Services Act and certain other laws, entered into force following its publication in Official Gazette No. 33240 dated 1 May 2026. This regulation introduces significant changes, particularly regarding maternity leave durations, which have implications for employers in terms of workforce planning and organisational processes. In this bulletin, we examine the key changes introduced by the regulation.
-
30.4.2026
Draft Law On The Protection Of Trade Secrets Has Been Released!
Whilst Turkish law contains various provisions on trade secrets across different laws and subordinate regulations, there has been no standalone legislation to date that directly and comprehensively defines trade secrets or provides for distinct protection and safeguard mechanisms. Prepared to address this gap, the Draft has been drafted in line with the EU's Directive 2016/943/EU on trade secrets and serves as a tool to support Turkey's international trade policies and the development of digital trade.
-
24.4.2026
A New Era For The Meal Allowance Exemption From Insurance Premium
Article 10 of Law No. 7577 on Amendments to Certain Laws, published in the Official Gazette dated 17.04.2026, introduced a significant amendment to paragraph (b) of Article 80, titled "Earnings Subject to Premium," of Law No. 5510 on Social Insurance and General Health Insurance, which regulates exemption amounts, with respect to the meal allowance exemption provided by employers.
-
20.4.2026
"Effective Remorse" as a Personal Ground Mitigating or Eliminating Punishment
1. What is Effective Remorse? Effective remorse is the legal consequence - in the form of a reduction or elimination of punishment - that the law attaches to the compensatory conduct voluntarily undertaken by a perpetrator following the completion of an offence, as a result of the remorse experienced by that perpetrator.
-
9.4.2026
Deadline for Compliance with Minimum Capital Requirement: 31 December 2026
Articles 332 and 580 of the Turkish Commercial Code (the "TCC") regulate the minimum capital requirements for joint stock companies and limited liability companies, respectively, and stipulate that such amounts shall be determined and may be increased by a Presidential Decree. Pursuant to this authority, with Presidential Decree No. 7887 published in the Official Gazette dated 25 November 2023, the minimum capital amounts have been significantly increased. Accordingly, under the said Decree:
-
7.4.2026
The Occupational Health And Safety Training Regulation Has Been Amended! What Innovations Does The 2026 Regulation Introduce?
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) trainings constitute the cornerstone of a proactive approach to preventing workplace accidents. The new "Regulation on the Procedures and Principles of Occupational Health and Safety Training for Employees", which entered into force on April 2, 2026, repealed the 2013 regulation and introduced fundamental changes centered on digitalization, accessibility, and measurability in training processes.
-
2.4.2026
The Rights of Minority Shareholders: How Powerful Are They in Reality?
The fundamental principle in joint-stock companies and commercial companies in general is the majority rule. Shareholders holding control determine the fate of the company. However, to prevent this from turning into absolute dominance, the Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102 (the "TCC") grants minority shareholders various rights. The purpose of these rights is to establish a balance between the majority and the minority, and to prevent the minority from becoming entirely ineffective against the company's management.
-
31.3.2026
Employment Retention Incentive in the Manufacturing Industury Enters into Face
The Regulation on the Implementation of the Employment Retention Support Program was published in the Official Gazette dated 3 March 2026 and numbered 33185, and has entered into force.The Program aims to preserve and increase employment in enterprises operating in the manufacturing industry. It covers the period between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2026, with the final deadline for submitting payment claims set as 31 March 2027.
-
30.3.2026
A Roadmap for the Seizure of Shares in Capital Companies: Differences Between Joint-Stock and Limited Liability Companies
I. Introduction A share in a capital company constitutes a complex legal value encompassing partnership status, financial rights, and managerial powers. Pursuant to the provisions of the Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102 ("TCC") and the Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law No. 2004 ("EBL"), the shares held by a debtor partner in a capital company may be seized by that partner's personal creditors. However, structural differences between joint-stock companies and limited liability companies, together with factors such as whether the shares are embodied in negotiable instruments and the function of commercial registry records, give rise to significant procedural distinctions at the seizure stage. This article examines - without entering into the sale phase - solely the procedure, legal nature, and principal practical differences in the seizure of shares in joint-stock and limited liability companies, in the light of the established case law of the Court of Cassation.
-
27.3.2026
New Policy Decision from the Board: Explicit Consent and Information Notices to Be Regulated Separately
Cautionary Resolution on the Separate Preparation of Clarification Texts and Explicit Consent Texts by Data Controllers With its Cautionary Resolution ("Cautionary Resolution") dated 18.02.2026 and numbered 2026/347, the Personal Data Protection Board ("Board") has clarified the implementation principles regarding the preparation of clarification texts and explicit consent texts under the Personal Data Protection Law ("PDPL"). The Cautionary Resolution explicitly emphasises that these two texts have different legal natures and must therefore be prepared separately.
