Flexibility introduced for weekly rest days.

The legal regulation concerning the “Weekly Rest Day” practice for employees of accommodation establishments certified by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism was deliberated and adopted in the TBMM General Assembly. The legal amendment is expected to be published in the Official Gazette shortly.

With the amendment made to the “weekly rest day pay” provision in the Labor Law, while the right to weekly rest earned through the weekly working period is preserved and taking into account the needs that have arisen in the tourism sector, an exception was introduced to the general rule that weekly leave is to be used one day per week, for personnel working in accommodation facilities holding a tourism operation certificate from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. 

Accordingly, the weekly rest to which employees of accommodation facilities granted a tourism operation certificate by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism are entitled under the regulation may, with the written request or approval of the employee, be granted within 4 days following the day on which it was earned. In this case, the portion of the work performed by the employee on the weekly rest day to which they are entitled, equivalent to the normal daily working period, will not be taken into account in the calculation of overtime. The employee may withdraw the approval they have given, provided that they notify the employer in writing 30 days in advance.

We extend our thanks to Minister of Culture and Tourism Mr. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and Ministry members, to Justice and Development Party Adıyaman Member of Parliament Assoc. Prof. Dr. Resul Kurt, a member of the TBMM Planning and Budget Committee who prepared the bill, to the Committee chair and all its members, and to all our esteemed members of parliament and everyone who contributed, for implementing this regulation, which we regard as extremely important for the sustainability of industrial peace in our sector.

Respectfully

TÜROB – the Association of Turkish Hoteliers