The minimum wage for a foreign worker in Turkey is determined differently than the minimum wage for a Turkish worker.
The Ministry of Employment applies minimum salary rates for foreign personnel working in Turkey. The minimum gross wage rate for the Turkish employee is not valid for a foreign staff employed. The gross salary rate is also subdivided into the sector in which the staff will work. The salary of a foreign employee thus depends on his position.
The gross minimum wage to be paid for a foreign worker by type of occupation is as follows:
| Branches/ Professions | Gross Salary |
|---|---|
| Services/Employees at home (babysitting, cleaning etc) | 5.004,00 TL |
| Tourism, Animation, Organization (including Masseur, animator etc) | 5.004,00 TL |
| Sales organizations (Sales, marketing, export etc) 1,5*minimum wage | 5.004,00*1,5 = 7.506,00 TL |
| Expertise (e.g. Teachers, Doctors etc) 3*minimum wage | 5.004,00*3 = 15.012,00 TL |
| Managers, Branch Managers, Engineers, Architects, etc. 4 * minimum wage | 5.004,00*4 = 20.016,00 TL |
| General Managers, Pilots, Preliminary Work Permit Applications for Engineers and Architects, 6,5*minimum wage | 5.004,00*6,5 = 32.526,00 TL |
The associated social security contributions (SGK premium, to be paid by the employer) are determined as follows:
| Salary Scale | Gross Salary | SGK Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Base Salary | 5.004,00 TL | 875,70 TL |
| Minimum wage*1,5 | 7.506,00 TL | 1.113,54 TL |
| Minimum wage*3 | 15.012,00 TL | 2.627,10 TL |
| Minimum wage*4 | 20.016,00 TL | 3.502,80 TL |
| Minimum wage*6,5 | 32.526,00 TL | 5.602,05 TL |
When hiring foreign personnel, you should keep in mind to apply the minimum wage as described above. When granting or extending work permits, strict compliance is made with this condition. It is even possible that the company will be fined with retroactive effect.
Foreign personnel working in domestic service often request payment of their salary in dollars. As an employer, you have the right not to accept such requests. If you agree to pay the salary in a foreign currency, you should take into account that the equivalent value of the Dollar in Turkish Lira will be different for each month. Every month you must state the different value as salary in Turkish Liras and pay the SGK premium on this basis to the tax authorities.
The above does not apply to foreign persons with a Turkish identity (dual nationality) or foreigners who have been married to a Turkish partner for more than 3 years.
For more information, please refer to the website Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, (www.csgb.gov.tr in Turkish)
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