Termination ban, unilateral unpaid leave and short-time working allowance extended again

Introduction
Extension of termination ban and unilateral unpaid leave
Extension of short-time working allowance

Introduction

Pursuant to three presidential decrees published in the Official Gazette on 23 December 2020 and 30 December 2020 (31343 and 31350), the termination ban and unilateral unpaid leave, which were due to expire by 17 January 2021, have been extended until 17 March 2021. Further, the short-time working allowance granted to workplaces which had applied unitl 31 December 2020 has been extended until 28 February 2021. Similarly, the application deadline for the short-time working allowance has been extended until 31 January 2021.

Extension of termination ban and unilateral unpaid leave

Pursuant to Presidential Decree 3344, published in the Official Gazette (31350) on 30 December 2020, the termination ban and unilateral unpaid leave, which were to expire by 17 January 2021, have been extended for a further two months as of 17 January 2021.

The president can extend the termination ban until 30 June 2021, for a maximum of three months per extension.

Extension of short-time working allowance

Pursuant to Presidential Decree 3317, published in the Official Gazette (31343) on 23 December 2020, payment of the short-time working allowance for employers that applied for short-time working on grounds of compelling reasons due to COVID-19 by 31 December 2020 (inclusive) has been extended until 28 February 2021.

In addition, pursuant to Presidential Decree 3316, published in the Official Gazette (31343) on 23 December 2020, the application term for workplaces applying for short-time working on grounds of compelling reasons due to COVID-19 as of 1 January 2021 has been extended until 31 January 2021.

Accordingly, at the time of writing, employers that applied for short-time working by 31 December 2020 and that fulfil the abovementioned requirements can benefit from the short-time working allowance until 28 February 2021. Moreover, employers that did not file applications by 31 December 2020 can apply for short-time working until 31 January 2021 as of 1 January 2021.

For further information on this topic please contact Beril Yayla Sapan, Asena Aytuğ Keser or Kardelen Özden at Gün + Partners by telephone (+90 212 354 00 00) or email (beril.yayla@gun.av.tr, asena.keser@gun.av.tr or kardelen.ozden@gun.av.tr). The Gün + Partners website can be accessed at www.gun.av.tr.