A highly controversial decision in Alanya has been published in the Official Gazette: Work for 10 days, forget about your right to leave!

Social Security Expert Prof. Dr. Aziz Çelik criticized the legalization of the new weekly leave regulation in the tourism sector, which was published in the Official Gazette, by saying, “Slavery has been reinforced.” Çelik stated that the regulation, which was met with strong reactions in Alanya and which he claims violates the Constitution, should be brought before the Constitutional Court for annulment.

The regulation on weekly rest, which closely concerns millions of tourism workers in Alanya and across the country, was published in the Official Gazette today after being approved by the President and has officially come into force. The new law extends the weekly leave period to 10 days, sparking widespread public backlash.

Prof. Dr. Aziz Çelik strongly reacted to the regulation, saying, “Slavery in the tourism sector has been reinforced.” In a statement shared on social media, he pointed out that workers will now only be entitled to one day off every 10 days instead of one day per week. He also stressed that this paves the way for forcing employees to work on their rest day without paying overtime.

"CLEARLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL"

Çelik argued that the new regulation contradicts constitutional articles that safeguard the right to rest. He stated that the law must be taken to the Constitutional Court. “This practice could affect not only the tourism sector but eventually all lines of work,” he warned.

He also reminded the public that under previous regulations, tourism workers could already be made to work up to 11 hours per day. With the new law, he added, reducing weekly rest to once every 10 days on top of long hours represents a serious deregulation in the sector.

Aziz Çelik also harshly criticized the fact that “in a country where the Minister of Tourism is also a tourism company owner, this practice is not surprising,” and called for legal action to annul the regulation.