Regulation on the Use of Part-Time Work Rights for Civil Servants (2025)

The Regulation on the Right of Civil Servants to Work Part-Time is an administrative provision that grants male and female civil servants the right to work part-time from the birth of their child until the start of primary school age. This regulation has been prepared within the framework of the provisions of Law No. 657 on Civil Servants. The regulation was signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 17 July 2025 and entered into force on Friday, 18 July 2025, upon publication in In Official Gazette No. 32959.

Representative Image Symbolizing Public Personnel (Freepik)

Scope of the Right to Part-Time Work

Under the regulation, all male and female civil servants subject to Law No. 657 are granted the right to request part-time work during the period from the birth of their child until the start of primary school age.

Female civil servants may transition to part-time work after using their maternity leave or unpaid leave. Male civil servants may apply for part-time work after completing their paternity leave granted following the birth of their spouse’s child. Applications are submitted to the civil servant’s employing institution, and the right to benefit from part-time work begins as of the application date.

If both parents are civil servants, each spouse may benefit from part-time work according to their individual requests. However, simultaneous use is not mandatory and the arrangement may be applied during different periods. The regulation stipulates that civil servants may request part-time work at any time before the child begins primary school.

Civil servants who adopt a child are also eligible for this right. In cases of adoption, the start date of part-time work shall be the date the child is physically taken into care or the end date of any legal leave used by the civil servant. Such civil servants may continue part-time work until the child begins primary school age.

Working Hours and Remuneration Principles

According to the regulation, civil servants benefiting from the right to part-time work shall have a weekly working hours limit equal to half of the normal working hours. The maximum weekly working time shall not exceed three days, and daily working hours shall be set at a minimum of three hours and a maximum of eight hours. Work must be conducted within these limits.

Part-time working civil servants shall receive half the salary and payments granted to full-time civil servants. This includes proportional calculation of basic salary, additional payments, and other regular allowances; civil servants shall only benefit from entitlements corresponding to the hours they actually work.

Part-time working civil servants shall not be required to work outside their designated hours or during lunch breaks. However, working hours may vary on different days. Authorized institutional supervisors have the authority to adjust working hours in January and July based on the operational needs of the civil servant’s unit.

A different arrangement is provided for civil servants employed in public institutions that provide uninterrupted 24-hour service. For such personnel, part-time working principles shall be determined by the relevant institution, taking into account half of the weekly working time and service requirements. Fixed working hours may be replaced by shift or flexible scheduling systems for these employees. Additionally, breastfeeding leave shall not be granted to female civil servants working part-time.

Application Conditions and Restrictions

The application of the right to part-time work under the regulation is subject to specific conditions and limitations. Accordingly, civil servants holding positions such as branch manager or any equivalent or higher administrative role within public institutions and organizations are excluded from benefiting from this right. Similarly, civil servants serving in overseas institutions are exempted. These restrictions are based on the principle of ensuring uninterrupted service in positions with high managerial responsibilities.

In units requiring uninterrupted 24-hour service, the part-time work model may be planned differently, provided that service continuity is maintained. For such personnel, working hours shall be determined at the discretion of the institution, taking into account the half-weekly part-time working time. Thus, for example, the implementation method for staff working on shift duty may differ from that of standard civil servants.

Termination of Part-Time Work

The right to part-time work granted to civil servants for childcare purposes terminates upon the occurrence of certain conditions.

The part-time work period automatically ends when the child begins primary school age. At this date, the civil servant must return to the normal working schedule. Additionally, the part-time work arrangement may be terminated at the civil servant’s request. In such cases, the civil servant may apply to the institution for a return to full-time duties.

If the child dies, the right to part-time work ceases. This also applies to cases of adoption. In the event that the adoption relationship ends, the civil servant may no longer continue part-time work and must resume full-time duties. Thus, part-time work is valid only for children who are actively under the civil servant’s care.

Expansion of Scope and Implementation Expectations

With this regulation, the scope of the right to part-time work has been expanded compared to previous arrangements, and its application area has been broadened. According to statements by the Ministry of Family and Social Services, while approximately 1,000 civil servants previously benefited from this right, the new regulation is expected to enable 20,000 to 30,000 civil servants to benefit initially.

President Erdoğan Making a Statement After the Cabinet Meeting, 17 July 2025 (Anadolu Agency)

Cabinet Meeting Statements

The regulation on the right to part-time work was placed on the agenda of the Presidency Cabinet Meeting on 17 July 2025 and announced to the public on the same day by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Erdoğan explained the entry into force of this regulation as follows: "As part of the Family Year, we are taking steps this year to support family institutions. We are implementing the right to part-time work granted to male and female civil servants following childbirth or adoption. Through the regulation to be published this evening, civil servants will be able to work part-time from the birth of their child until the start of primary school age. This regulation, based on a 20-hour weekly working schedule, will directly contribute to allowing parents to spend more time on their children’s development and strengthen family bonds."

This statement made during the Cabinet Meeting was officially published in the Official Gazette on 18 July 2025, issue No. 32959.