Ministry updates: What are the work criteria for foreign workers?

For a long time, there have been calls from the business world to regulate foreign worker criteria to close the labor gap. The Ministry of Labor and Social Security has evaluated the demands from various sectors and updated the work permit evaluation criteria for foreign workers.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Security announced that the 'Work Permit Evaluation Criteria,' updated in accordance with Article 22 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the International Labor Law, entered into force as of October 1, 2024.

In the statement made by the Ministry, it was noted that, based on evaluations made in accordance with international labor policy, the aim is to ensure that the labor force needed by Turkey is primarily met by the domestic workforce, and if this is not possible, to benefit from the complementary effect of international labor.

The statement emphasized that attracting qualified foreigners to Turkey and the added value these individuals will provide are important for Turkey's development, and pointed out that in line with various global, regional, and national developments, Turkey's position in the global arena as well as the dynamics and needs of the labor market have changed over time.

The statement made by the Ministry is as follows:

"Taking into account the framework drawn in top policy documents, primarily the 12th Development Plan, analyses made on a sector-profession-job basis, demands of sector representatives, opinions of relevant public institutions and organizations, administrative records and data, and similar issues, the work permit evaluation criteria have been updated in line with needs to: attract qualified investors and labor to our country, utilize foreign labor in a complementary nature in areas where needs cannot be met due to limited domestic labor supply, take protective measures for sectors-professions-jobs where needs can be met by the domestic workforce, and increase registered employment.

The 'Work Permit Evaluation Criteria,' updated in accordance with Article 22 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the International Labor Law, entered into force as of October 1, 2024.”

Within the scope of the new regulation; it was also stated that the 'employment,' 'wage,' and 'financial sufficiency' criteria, also known as general evaluation criteria, have been updated, and the necessary conditions and criteria for various sectors-professions-jobs have been regulated.

News Source: 12punto