Police work hours and shift system overhauled: Hourly pay is coming

A reform package prepared by the Ministry of Interior and the General Directorate of Security to reorganize the financial and legal rights of police personnel is nearing completion.

According to Türkiye Gazetesi, the most notable step planned in this context is to abandon the current fixed-amount application for overtime pay and instead calculate it based on the actual overtime hours worked by each individual.

Under the new model, the standard weekly working time has been set at 40 hours, and the monthly time at 160 hours. Personnel will be paid an additional hourly fee for duties exceeding this duration. The upper limit set for overtime pay will be 17 thousand TL. Currently, police officers receive a fixed monthly overtime payment of 6 thousand 686 TL, regardless of their actual working hours. However, in this system, there was no wage difference between personnel who worked more intensively and those who worked less. With the new regulation, payments will only be made for duties exceeding the standard time, and no additional fee will be paid to personnel who do not work overtime.

In the police force's new shift arrangement, a "12 hours on duty, 36 hours off (12/36)" model is planned. Thus, it is aimed to both protect the employees' right to rest and keep the total weekly working time between 42 and 45 hours. With this step, it is intended to minimize irregular working hours and observe work-life balance.

While no direct increase in salaries is foreseen in order to control public spending and ensure savings in the budget, the personal rights and professional status of police officers will be further strengthened within a legal framework. With the new Police Profession Law, not only salaries and wages but also the personnel's job descriptions, shift durations, and general working conditions will be determined based on more sustainable and transparent principles.

Following the completion of the draft studies, the necessary process for the legalization of the new system will be initiated.

News Source: 12punto