Is a 4-day work week coming? Petition submitted to Parliament

Employees in Turkey have long been demanding a reduction in working hours and a transition to a four-day work week model.

This proposal for a major change in working life is among the most frequently raised demands among the 27,530 applications submitted to the TBMM Petition Commission. Employees are calling for legal regulations to be enacted to implement this model.

TURKEY IS AMONG THE COUNTRIES WITH THE LONGEST WORKING HOURS

According to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Turkey ranks second in the world for the longest working hours.

After Colombia, Turkey is one of the countries with the highest working hours, averaging 45.7 hours per week. The 4-day work week model has been tested in many countries around the world in recent years. Canada, Australia, Belgium, the UK, Germany, and Poland are among the countries testing this model. Poland implemented a 32-hour, 4-day work week system starting July 1.

According to research published in the August 2025 issue of Nature magazine, the 4-day work week model has positive effects on the physical and mental health of employees, while also increasing the productivity and profitability rates of companies.

The results of this research have increased hopes for the feasibility of this model in Turkey as well. Applications made by employees for a similar regulation in Turkey have been moved to the relevant committees in Parliament.

CONTENT OF THE PETITIONS SUBMITTED TO THE TBMM

27,530 petitions regarding various labor reforms have been submitted to the TBMM Petition Commission. Prominent demands in the applications include a 4-day work week, granting parents the right to remote work, and extending post-natal maternity leave to 24 weeks. Furthermore, it is requested that mothers who give birth in 2025 benefit from these regulations.

Transitioning to a 4-day work week has the potential to improve employee health while simultaneously increasing company productivity. However, legal regulations are needed for such reforms to be implemented. While employees are demanding that these regulations be put into effect as soon as possible, employers and government officials are evaluating the impact of these changes on the national economy.

The applications also request a reduction in working hours for working women and the right for one of the parents to work remotely until their children reach the age of 5. These demands are seen as an important step, especially for parents to better manage childcare.

Regulations such as a 4-day work week and remote work could create a major shift in the labor market in Turkey. However, a long process may be required for these changes to be implemented on a legal basis. The committees in Parliament aim to take steps on this issue by evaluating the applications made by employees.