2-3 hours of work a day is on the agenda: Are working hours changing?

Preparations for regulations regarding flexible employment models in working life have come to the fore again.

At the Tripartite Advisory Board meeting held under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, new working methods, including 2-3 hours of daily work, were evaluated.

Representatives of the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş), the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions (DİSK) and the Confederation of Hak Trade Unions (Hak-İş) attended the meeting titled "New Working Methods in Working Life".

The main agenda of the meeting was the possible effects of flexible working models on the employment market.

2-3 HOURS A DAY WORKING MODEL IS ON THE TABLE

Among the options evaluated at the meeting, the "term working" model, which includes daily working hours of 2 to 3 hours, stood out.

Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan stated that the new working models aim to include in employment those whose participation in the labor market remains low.

Stating that international standards and practices in Europe were examined, Işıkhan stated that they aim to create an assurance-based and inclusive working system that takes into account the needs of employees and the operating conditions of businesses.

WARNING FROM UNIONS FOR LOSS OF RIGHTS

Türk-İş, DİSK and Hak-İş representatives who attended the meeting approached the new working models cautiously.

Unions pointed out that flexible working styles may cause loss of wages and rights for employees.

It was emphasized that new regulations should not increase the existing workload or cause labor to become cheaper.

Union representatives demanded that wage balance, social security premiums, rest periods and union organizing rights be protected in the models to be implemented.

OVP TARGETS THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2027

The regulatory calendar regarding new working models was also included in the Medium Term Program.

According to the targets in the program, secondary legislation preparations covering flexible and remote working models are planned to be completed by the second quarter of 2027.

Thus, it is aimed to create the legal infrastructure for new ways of working.

However, no concrete regulation has yet been announced regarding which sectors the 2-3 hour daily working model will be implemented, how wages will be determined and how social security premiums will be calculated.