New Employment Conditions in Türkiye for Persons of Turkic Origin (Law No. 2527)

Introduction and Historical Context

Employment in Türkiye for foreigners of Turkic origin has always been regulated by special legislation, reflecting Ankara’s historical and cultural ties with the Turkic world. Until recently, the key legal document was Law No. 2527 “On the free exercise of professions and arts, and on employment in public or private institutions or workplaces by foreigners of Turkic origin in Türkiye,” adopted back in 1981.

This law, introduced during the Cold War era, aimed to facilitate the integration and employment of Turkic minorities living outside Türkiye by granting them significant advantages compared to other foreigners. In practice, it allowed them to work without a separate work permit—an important incentive for repatriation and professional mobility.

However, geopolitical changes and rising migration flows, especially from Central Asia and other regions, created the need to revise this outdated law. Against the backdrop of the growing influence of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and Türkiye’s “soft power” policy, a need arose to define more clearly who exactly can benefit from these privileges, in order to prevent abuse and avoid excessive competition in the domestic labor market.

What Changed on 10 October 2025

The key amendments regulating the employment of persons of Turkic origin entered into force with publication in the Official Gazette (Resmî Gazete) on 10 October 2025.

The new regulation—Presidential Decree No. 10476—amended the Implementing Regulation of Law No. 2527. The main change is centralization of power: the authority to determine which communities are considered “of Turkic origin” (Türk soylu) and may enjoy special employment privileges now rests entirely with the President of the Republic of Türkiye [1].

Conditions and Requirements (Analysis of 10 Clauses)

The new regulation introduces ten mandatory conditions that must all be met to obtain the right to work under Law No. 2527. These requirements have significantly complicated the process and drawn criticism.

Who Can Benefit and Who It Applies To

According to official clarifications, the law targets not citizens of OTS member states but Turkic minorities residing in other countries.

Target groups:

• Turkic minorities without their own state: Uyghurs (China), Ahıska Turks, Crimean Tatars (Ukraine), and communities in the Balkans and Middle East.
• Persons unable to work in their home country for political or uncontrollable reasons (clause 9).

Citizens of independent Turkic states (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan) are effectively excluded under clause 10, since they are not an ethnic minority in their countries. For them, general rules under Law No. 6735 “On the International Workforce” continue to apply [3].

Statistics:

• About 358,000 people of Turkic origin hold residence permits in Türkiye.
• Roughly 89,000 already have official work permits [4].

Motives and Political Context

1. Soft Power Tool: The law strengthens ties with Turkic communities, emphasizing Türkiye’s role as their protector and homeland.
2. Labor Market Protection: Clause 10 controls migration flows and prevents competition with local workers.
3. Humanitarian and Political Support: It creates a legal mechanism to assist Turkic minorities facing discrimination.

Deputy Chair Kürşad Zorlu noted that this is “an update of legislation demonstrating the Republic of Türkiye’s resolve to assume historical responsibility for our compatriots” [3].

Risks, Criticism and Gaps

• Unclear origin criteria: Without a Presidential decision, the law is not operational.
• Proof difficulties: Clauses 9 and 10 are subjective, opening room for corruption and abuse.
• Centralization risk: Full authority granted to the President politicizes implementation.
• Discrimination risk: Potential tension between Turkic foreigners and local workers.

Comparison and Consequences

Conclusions and Outlook

The new regulation of 10 October 2025 is a double-edged measure. On one hand, it seeks to streamline migration policy and support vulnerable Turkic minorities. On the other, it introduces vague and rigid criteria that make employment procedures complex and non-transparent.

Key points to watch:

1. Publication of the Presidential Decision defining eligible communities is crucial.
2. Clarification of clauses 9 and 10 is essential for practical implementation.
3. The number of beneficiaries is expected to remain limited; the law will serve humanitarian rather than broad migration purposes.

Sources and References

1. MFY Legal – Free Work Rights for Citizens of Turkic States
2. Ekonomim – Regulation on Employment of Turkic Origin Foreigners Amended
3. Aksiyon – Kürşad Zorlu on Regulatory Amendment
4. Haber 365 – Evaluation of the Regulation by Kürşad Zorlu