Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes in Turkey

Unfair dismissal and other employment disputes in Turkey turn on severance pay (kıdem tazminatı), notice pay, reinstatement claims and a mandatory mediation step before court. English-speaking lawyers advise employees and employers and act for them.
lawyers in Turkey
5
cases in this service
10
clients' rating in Turkey
4.98 ★

About Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes in Turkey

Unfair dismissal in Turkey, also searched as wrongful or invalid dismissal, an employment dispute or a search for an employment lawyer (iş hukuku avukatı), is mainly about three things: whether the dismissal (işten çıkarma) was valid, what payments are owed, such as severance pay (kıdem tazminatı) and notice pay (ihbar tazminatı), and whether reinstatement can be claimed (işe iade). Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Employment Law: Dismissals & Disputes”. English-speaking lawyers explain the position to employees and employers.

Who asks for help

  • Foreign employees in Turkey dismissed, pressured to resign or not paid what was agreed.
  • Employees who want to leave for a serious reason, such as unpaid wages, and keep their entitlements (haklı nedenle fesih).
  • Employers planning a dismissal or answering a claim.

How a dispute runs in Turkey

Most claims for payments and for reinstatement must first go through mediation (zorunlu arabuluculuk). Only if it fails does the case go to the labour court (iş mahkemesi). The periods for acting after a dismissal are short and are counted from the written notice, so dates matter from the start. Protection against dismissal depends on the size of the employer and the length of service.

What to look out for

The exit code the employer reports to the social security institution (SGK çıkış kodu) can affect severance and unemployment benefit, so it is worth checking. For a foreign employee, the work permit (çalışma izni) is usually tied to the employer, which means a dismissal can also affect the right to stay. It also helps to understand a contract written in Turkish before signing anything new; see contract review and advice. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Questions and answers

Am I entitled to severance pay?

It depends on the length of service and on how the contract ended. A lawyer checks the dates, the exit code and the payslips.

Do I have to go to mediation before suing?

For most dismissal and payment claims, yes; a case filed without it is usually turned away.

Can I claim my job back?

In some workplaces a reinstatement claim is possible. Whether it applies to you depends on the employer's size and your service.

Can a lawyer act if I have already left Turkey?

Yes, under a power of attorney. More on the field: employment law in Turkey.

5 lawyers who provide Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes in Turkey

Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.

  • Cansu, lawyer in Izmir

    Cansu

    Lawyer · Izmir, Turkey

    • 209 cases handled · 8 in this service
    • 13+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Turkish
    • Law, Yeditepe University
    • 4.96(9 reviews)
    Contact Cansu
  • Yasin, lawyer in Istanbul

    Yasin

    Lawyer · Istanbul, Turkey

    • 187 cases handled · 1 in this service
    • 4+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Turkish
    • Law, Yeditepe University Faculty of Law
    • 5.00(6 reviews)
    Contact Yasin
  • Gamze, lawyer in Bodrum

    Gamze

    Lawyer · Bodrum, Turkey

    • 123 cases handled · 1 in this service
    • 14+ years in practice
    • Speaks: Turkish, English
    • Law, Yeditepe University
    • 4.94(4 reviews)
    Contact Gamze
  • Sadi Berk, lawyer in Kusadasi

    Sadi Berk

    Lawyer · Kusadasi, Turkey

    • 80 cases handled
    • 15+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Turkish
    • Law, Marmara University
    • 5.00(6 reviews)
    Contact Sadi Berk
  • Mert, lawyer in Antalya

    Mert

    Lawyer · Antalya, Turkey

    • 43 cases handled
    • 11+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, Turkish
    • Bachelors of Law, Ankara University
    Contact Mert
Contact form · a chat with a lawyer

Talk to a lawyer about Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes

5 registered lawyers provide this service in Turkey. Describe your situation in a short chat — what happened, where, and how to reach you. Your enquiry is reviewed and passed to a lawyer who handles exactly this kind of case, with no obligation.

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See the lawyers ↓

Enquiries are answered by lawyers of AdvocateAbroad. This site provides legal information, not legal advice.

What our clients say about our service in Turkey

  • It was a good experience. The lawyer was very responsive and helpful in ending a contract relationship. We communicated by email and phone, all in English, and he answered all our questions very quickly. He reviewed our contracts and advised us on the impact and on possible improvements. All in all it was very positive, and we can certainly recommend his service.
    — Nicola
    27 Oct 2025
    Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes
  • I was facing an involuntary departure from a job of 23 years, and the lawyer's calm, steady guidance was invaluable. She explained the workings of the law, my entitlements and the steps I could expect, then helped me with each of them over several months. She was readily available in person or by phone, and was clear and tactful both with me and when we wrote jointly to my ex-employer. She played a crucial part in reviewing and editing the agreement in its English and Spanish versions, and the company accepted everything she insisted upon. Her unbending professionalism, clarity and patience with my questions were just what was needed to bring an unexpected and difficult situation to a satisfying conclusion. I could not be happier to have found her.
    — Frank
    05 Mar 2025
    Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes
  • When my family needed an English-speaking lawyer in Spain, he was a godsend. He took charge straight away, and his professionalism, together with his command of Spanish law, got me through a complicated situation. He is the person to go to if you must work your way through the hard-to-reach rights and obligations of the Spanish legal code. He is also compassionate and understanding, and he was always available and ready to help. I recommend him without any hesitation to anyone who needs effective legal representation.
    — Annette
    13 Sep 2024
    Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes
  • The team contacted me promptly and put me in touch with a fitting lawyer straight away, which I really appreciate as my issue was pressing. The lawyer was very helpful too: a preliminary opinion arrived before the call we had agreed on, and more detail followed during the call. I will be sure to get in touch again whenever a lawyer is needed.
    — Paulo
    15 Mar 2024
    Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes
  • The lawyer replied very quickly, gave an excellent analysis of the legal matter and proposed changes to the contract clauses that truly reflected my interests. Everything was explained clearly and simply, and I was very satisfied with the outcome.
    — Dr.
    20 Mar 2023
  • If you too are looking for English-speaking lawyers who are good, I doubt you will find a team as professional and diligent. Both lawyers were calm and informative, reassured me and made me feel confident about my employment case. In court they appeared much more professional than the lawyer on the other side, and the result for us was favourable. For anyone who does not speak Spanish and wants good advice, these are the lawyers to turn to. I highly recommend them, lovely people!
    — Sammi
    03 Mar 2023
    Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes
  • Fast reply, and a polite lawyer who explained things well and knows the facts. I got just the information I needed, and his English was perfect.
    — Elin
    17 Aug 2022
  • The lawyer was helpful and caring from the very start. My case was with the British Consulate in Malaga and she did not flinch, even though dealing with a government organisation is so difficult, if not impossible. She also supported me emotionally because of the way I was being treated, and I was not in a state to make any decision for myself. She gave me the confidence to face the challenge ahead, explained everything in perfect English, and we finished the case with the compensation and the result that I wanted. The help I received was excellent. I would not hesitate to recommend her service to anyone, and I am truly grateful for her help and support.
    — Jean
    31 Jul 2022
  • Very helpful advice, with a clear explanation of the right course of action.
    — Stephen
    27 Jun 2022
  • I valued how well she explained things and the suitable solutions she offered.
    — Sayuri
    08 Oct 2021
  • I highly recommend this lawyer: great and easy to work with, highly efficient and helpful, and her English is perfect. I will certainly use her again if I ever need to.
    — Kate
    21 Jun 2021
    Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes, Cyprus
  • The lawyer is excellent. She was attentive and made sure I got the best possible outcome, and I am very satisfied with it.
    — Mark
    27 Jan 2021