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Will weekly working hours be reduced? Expert warns of 'manipulation'

Labor life expert Prof. Dr. Aziz Çelik, in a post on his social media account regarding reports that "weekly working hours will be reduced," stated: "The Ministry of Labor and Social Security currently has no such preparation that has been communicated to the parties. So-called 'good news' and manipulation reports are being made on such sensitive issues that no one knows about, and which unions and employers have not discussed or negotiated!"

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Claims that new regulations will be introduced on many topics, from wages to working hours, general holiday pay to flexible working, and weekly leave to annual leave, have hit the agenda.

According to a report by the Türkiye newspaper, known for its proximity to the government, it was stated that the 45-hour work week could be reduced to 40 hours, and the 48-hour work weeks in some professional groups could also be reduced to 40 hours.

"CONTAINS MANIPULATION"

Labor life expert Prof. Dr. Aziz Çelik made a post regarding the claims in question titled "The 'working hours are falling' manipulation!"

In his post on his X account, Çelik stated, "The reports that have been put back into circulation claiming 'working hours will be reduced to 40 hours' contain serious manipulation."

Here is Çelik's post:

"The Ministry of Labor and Social Security currently has no such preparation that has been communicated to the parties. So-called 'good news' and manipulation reports are being made on such sensitive issues that no one knows about, and which unions and employers have not discussed or negotiated!

The claim that 'weekly working hours will be reduced to 40 hours' seems like the garnish of the matter. A PR campaign is being conducted. The real goal is to make labor legislation even more flexible.

They are using the promise of reducing working hours as a carrot to make labor legislation more flexible and unregulated, and to get the flexibility regulations that unions have opposed for years accepted.

"IT IS HIGH TIME"

It is high time that weekly working hours were reduced. Turkey has not reduced the official 45-hour weekly working time since the 1980s.

However, it is unacceptable to use working hours as a carrot, as a bribe, to legalize flexible working.

In our country, where most employers do not even comply with the legal weekly working time, do not pay for overtime, and the ministry does not conduct effective inspections, the carrot of reducing working hours to 40 hours is not credible."