Parental leave in Turkey (2026)

Last reviewed: 7 November 2026

In short: Women employees do not work for 8 weeks before and 16 weeks after birth, and an employee whose spouse gives birth gets 10 days of paid leave. The Social Insurance Institution pays an allowance for the maternity weeks, and further unpaid leave can be requested. Pregnancy and birth are not valid reasons for dismissal.

RuleWhat applies
Maternity leaveTaking parental leaveWomen employees are not to work for 8 weeks before and 16 weeks after birth, 24 weeks in total. For a multiple pregnancy 2 weeks are added to the 8 before birth. With a doctor's approval a woman can work up to 2 weeks before birth, and the time worked is added to the period after birth. [1]
Paternity leaveTaking parental leaveAn employee whose spouse gives birth gets 10 days of paid leave. [1]
Parental leaveTaking parental leaveAfter the post-birth leave, a woman, or a woman or man who adopts a child under 3, can ask for unpaid leave for half of the weekly working time: 60 days after the first birth, 120 after the second and 180 after later births (30 more days for multiple births, 360 days for a child born with a disability). A woman can also ask for up to 6 months of unpaid leave after the 24 weeks (26 weeks for a multiple pregnancy). [1]
Pay during leaveTaking parental leaveThe Social Insurance Institution pays a daily temporary incapacity allowance for the 8 weeks before and 16 weeks after birth (2 extra weeks before birth for a multiple pregnancy), if at least 90 days of short-term insurance premiums were reported in the year before the birth. [2]
Job protectionTaking parental leavePregnancy, birth, and staying away from work during the art. 74 periods when women may not be employed are not valid reasons for dismissal. The employer must also not reduce pay when a pregnant woman is moved to lighter work on a doctor's report. [1]

Notes

  • Law No. 7578 of 22 April 2026 raised the period after birth from 8 to 16 weeks (24 weeks in total) and paternity leave from 5 to 10 days. The amendment table on the official page lists 1 May 2026 for these changes.
  • The 10 days are paid leave when an employee's spouse gives birth (Labour Law, additional art. 2).
  • Article 74 applies to all employees under an employment contract, whether or not they fall within the scope of the Labour Law.
  • The law states the rate by type of treatment: one half of the daily earnings for inpatient treatment and two thirds for outpatient treatment (Law 5510, art. 18). The allowance goes to insured women who had at least 90 days of short-term insurance premiums reported in the year before the birth.
  • The rule on valid reasons for dismissal applies in workplaces with 30 or more workers to employees with at least 6 months of service on an indefinite contract (Labour Law, art. 18).

Sources

  1. Cumhurbaşkanlığı Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (mevzuat.gov.tr): İŞ KANUNU (Kanun No. 4857) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  2. Cumhurbaşkanlığı Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (mevzuat.gov.tr): 5510 sayılı Sosyal Sigortalar ve Genel Sağlık Sigortası Kanunu (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources

Compare all countries →

General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.