Minister of Labor and Social Security met with TÜROB

Turkish Hoteliers Association (TÜROB) President Müberra Eresin visited Minister of Labor and Social Security Prof. Dr. Vedat Işıkhan. The visit was also attended by Ministry of Labor and Social Security SGK Insurance Premiums General Director Mürsel Baki, International Labor Force General Director Yunus Öz, Deputy General Director of Labor Ziya Kürşat Babayiğit, TÜROB Vice Presidents Hediye Güral Gür and Taner Yallagöz, along with TÜROB Secretary General İsmail Taşdemir.

During the meeting, the tourism sector's employment structure, current developments concerning working life, and the sector's priority expectations were discussed. Within the framework of the tourism sector's unique dynamics and high employment capacity, evaluations were made regarding aligning labor legislation more closely with the realities of the sector.

In this context, the following matters were conveyed to the Minister: raising SGK premium incentive rates back to the 5% level, facilitating the work and residence permit processes for foreign personnel in the tourism sector, resolving the uncertainties experienced regarding the service charge (percentage-based wage) system applied under Article 51 of the Labor Law, updating the Regulation on the Distribution of Funds Collected from Percentages to Workers in accordance with today's sector needs, reevaluating the income tax brackets and the SGK ceiling application, and establishing a flexible work permit model for the part-time employment of international students in the tourism sector.

During the visit, in which views were exchanged regarding preserving the tourism sector's employment capacity, supporting registered employment, and enhancing the sector's international competitiveness, evaluations were shared on the matters awaiting resolution in the sector.

We extend our thanks to Minister of Labor and Social Security Prof. Dr. Vedat Işıkhan for his gracious welcome and the interest he showed in the sector's requests.