The Turkish Constitution defines the right to social security as one of the fundemantal rights of citizens and residents. Accordingly, the primary law of the Turkish Social Security System defining the implementation is the Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Code No. 5510. The law determines who will be covered by social insurance.
In addition, in line with the Code No. 5510, the management of the system is being done by the Social Security Institution.
Accordingly, the following employee groups are subject to compulsory social insurance in Turkey:
• Those who work under a service contract under an employer,
• Those who work independently on their own behalf and account,
• Those who work as public officials in public administrations,
• Those who work independently in agriculture on their own behalf and account,
• Those who work temporarily with a service contract in agriculture,
• Those who pay optional insurance premiums,
• Company partners (partners of joint stock companies who are members of the board of directors, limited partners of limited companies whose capital is divided into shares, and all partners of other companies and equipment subsidiaries),
• President, Prime Minister, vice presidents, ministers, members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, mayors, elected members of the provincial council,
• Military students, candidates who have undergone basic military training to become officers and non-commissioned officers, and candidates who have undergone police training (provided that they complete their school/training and start their duties),
• Lawyers and notaries,
• Family physicians,
• Seafarers,
• Professional athletes,
• Village and security guards,
• Those working in domestic services,
• Part-time employees,
• Those who work in residential janitorial businesses,
• Film, theatre, stage, show, voice and instrumental artists, as well as those working in all branches of fine arts including music, painting, sculpture, decorative and other similar pursuits, as well as thinkers and writers,
• Those employed on a part-time employment contract in commercial taxi, minibus and similar urban public transportation workplaces,
• Those elected to the presidents and boards of directors of unions, confederations and union branches,
• Except for those who are nationals of countries with which an international social security agreement has been made an exception based on the principle of reciprocity, foreign nationals who work under service contracts,
• Those employed in accordance with the Act No. 4081 on the Protection of Farmers’ Property,
• General women specified in the General Hygiene Law No. 1593,
• Those who are employed as master instructors in courses organized by the Ministry of National Education, those who are assigned to work in public administrations in return for course wages,
• Those who benefit from the Community Benefit Work Programs organized by the Turkish Employment Agency,
• Those who receive job loss compensation in accordance with Act No. 4046,
• Horse racing jockeys and trainers subject to the Act on Horse Racing No. 6132.
It is legally mandatory for the employee groups listed above to be insured by notifying the Social Security Institution and to have premiums paid in their names.
