New Regulation Falls Short: No Early Retirement Rights for Couriers in Türkiye

A recent government regulation published in Türkiye’s Official Gazette has disappointed thousands of couriers hoping for early retirement benefits through occupational hazard recognition. While the ruling increases employers’ obligations in workplace safety, it excludes self-employed couriers and does not grant “wear-and-tear” retirement rights to any couriers.

Courier Work Reclassified as Hazardous, But No Retirement Perks

Under the new directive, courier services have been reclassified from “low-risk” to “hazardous” occupations—a shift that could have laid the groundwork for early retirement benefits (known in Türkiye as yıpranma hakkı). However, no such provision was granted, leaving couriers—especially gig workers—disappointed.

According to reporting by NTV, the regulation applies only to couriers employed under formal contracts. Freelance or app-based couriers—who make up a significant portion of the sector—are excluded from the scope of the new measures.

Employer Obligations Increase

Although the regulation sidesteps retirement benefits, it does impose stricter health and safety standards on employers:

• Monthly mandatory safety training time per employee has been doubled from 10 to 20 minutes.

• The time allocated for medical oversight by workplace doctors has also been increased proportionally.

Authorities say the goal is to reduce the health risks couriers face and ensure better safety monitoring. However, without inclusion in retirement reform, many industry workers argue that this is merely a cosmetic improvement.

Freelancers Left Behind Again

The regulation has renewed concerns over the precarious nature of gig economy work in Türkiye. Self-employed couriers—those working for platforms like Getir, Trendyol Go, or Yemeksepeti—will see no benefit under this rule, even though they bear equal or higher occupational risks.

Labor advocates argue that Türkiye’s lack of legal recognition for platform workers continues to perpetuate informal labor practices, exposing couriers to dangerous working conditions without social security, paid leave, or retirement benefits.

Symbolic Reform or Missed Opportunity?

While the update acknowledges that courier work is physically demanding and potentially dangerous, the absence of retirement incentives and exclusion of gig workers underlines Türkiye’s slow progress in adapting labor laws to the realities of the digital economy.

“This could have been a turning point,” labor rights advocates say. “Instead, it’s another missed opportunity to provide dignity and protection to the people delivering our cities’ daily needs.”