Weekly rest and public holiday pay are among the most common claims in employment cases. The rules are simple; the problem is usually missing records.
Weekly rest
- Within each 7-day period the employee gets at least 24 hours of uninterrupted rest (Labour Law art. 46). It does not have to be Sunday.
- Weekly rest is paid even though no work is done.
- Working even a few hours on the rest day breaks the 24-hour period; rest is deemed not given that day.
- Weekly rest cannot be split; in shift work it may start at a time other than midnight.
- Child and young workers get at least 40 hours of uninterrupted rest.
National and public holidays
On the days listed in Law No. 2429 (New Year, 23 April, 1 May, 19 May, 15 July, 30 August, 29 October, Ramadan and Sacrifice holidays, and the afternoons of 28 October and holiday eves):
- If no work is done, the wage is paid in full.
- If work is done, one additional day's wage is paid.
- Unless the contract or collective agreement provides otherwise, employee consent is needed; refusing is not absence.
- On half-day holidays (eves), payment is proportional to the hours falling in the holiday.
- If a public holiday falls on the weekly rest day, two separate payments do not arise unless the contract says so.
Example with the 2026 minimum wage
Daily gross 1 101 TL, hourly gross about TRY 146.80.
| Situation | Extra pay for monthly-paid | Total for daily-paid |
|---|---|---|
| No work on weekly rest day | — (included in salary) | 1 day's wage |
| Full day worked on weekly rest day | 1.5 days' wage (TRY 1,651.50) | 2.5 days' wage (TRY 2,752.50) |
| 4 hours worked on weekly rest day | Counts as a full day: TRY 1,651.50 | TRY 2,752.50 |
| No work on public holiday | — (included in salary) | 1 day's wage |
| Full day worked on public holiday | 1 day's wage (TRY 1,101) | 2 days' wage (TRY 2,202) |
| 10 hours worked on public holiday | TRY 1,101 + 2.5 hours overtime (TRY 550.50) | TRY 2,202 + TRY 550.50 |
These payments are wages, subject to SGK premiums, income tax and stamp duty. You can also enter public holiday days in the overtime calculator.
Records and proof
In a dispute, the burden of proving that no work was done on rest days and holidays, or that it was paid, lies with the employer. Signed timesheets, entry-exit records and separate lines on the payslip are the strongest evidence. The limitation period for wage claims is 5 years.
Employer checklist
- 24 hours of uninterrupted rest in every 7 days in the shift plan
- Contract clause or written consent for public holiday work
- Rest day and holiday work marked separately on timesheets
- Paid on a separate payroll line
- Holiday eves calculated as half days
Sources
Labour Law No. 4857 arts. 44, 46, 47, 63; Law No. 2429 on National Holidays and Public Holidays; Regulation on the Employment of Child and Young Workers.