Working Until Birth in Turkey: The 2-Week Rule and How Days Are Moved
If your health allows you may keep working until close to birth. Under the new rule this is up to two weeks before birth. What happens to the days you work?
The rule
Under the law, if your health allows and your doctor approves, a female employee may work until two weeks before birth if she wishes. The previous rule was three weeks. The periods you work are added to leave after birth.
How much is moved?
For a single pregnancy the pre-birth leave is 8 weeks. If you work until 2 weeks before birth, 6 weeks (42 days) are added after birth. Leave after birth becomes 22 weeks instead of 16 and the total stays 24 weeks.
Example
Due date 15 January 2027 and you work until 2 weeks before: leave starts on 1 January 2027. If birth is on the due date, leave ends on 17 June 2027 and you return on 18 June 2027.
See your own dates with the maternity leave calculator by changing “Working until birth”.
Working is not compulsory, it needs a doctor’s approval and the decision is yours. Talk to your employer and doctor.
Source: Labour Law No. 4857 Article 74 (as amended, Official Gazette of 1 May 2026). For information only; check with your employer and SGK.