Our Lawyer Handan Musullu Discussed the Legal Rights of Syrian Workers in Türkiye on Syria TV

Attorney Handan Musullu, a lawyer at DG Legal Global, appeared as a guest on “Almahjer” (المهجر), a program broadcast by Syria TV, where she provided legal assessments concerning the rights of Syrians living and working in Türkiye under labour and social security law.

Having constituted an important part of Türkiye’s workforce for many years, Syrians face a wide range of legal issues, from work permits and social security registration to employment-related claims and the status of their accrued rights upon leaving Türkiye.

In this context, Almahjer, a Syria TV program addressing issues affecting Syrians in Syria and across the diaspora, devoted its broadcast to the rights of Syrian workers in Türkiye arising under labour and social security law.

Social Security Contributions and Employees’ Rights After Leaving Türkiye

One of the principal issues addressed during the program was the legal status of social security contributions paid on behalf of Syrian employees working in Türkiye and the treatment of social security rights accrued during previous periods of employment after an individual leaves the country.

Attorney Handan Musullu emphasized that each employee’s legal position must be assessed individually in light of the particular circumstances of the case. She noted that factors including the duration of employment, social security history, the number of contribution days registered with the Turkish Social Security Institution (SGK), age, and other statutory requirements may be decisive in determining the rights available to an individual.

Accordingly, leaving Türkiye does not automatically entitle an individual to a full refund of previously paid social security contributions. The legal remedies and entitlements available under Turkish social security legislation must therefore be examined individually, including the possibility of a lump-sum old-age payment (yaşlılık toptan ödemesi) where the statutory conditions are satisfied.

Unregistered Employment and Underreporting of Employment

Another significant issue discussed during the program was unregistered employment and the incomplete reporting of employment periods for social security purposes.

The employment-related rights of foreign nationals working in Türkiye are also protected under Turkish labour and social security legislation. Rights concerning wages and overtime payments, paid annual leave, occupational accidents, social security registration, and entitlements arising from the termination of employment, including severance and notice pay, must be assessed according to the particular circumstances of each case.

Where employment has not been reported to the SGK at all, or where the reported period of employment is shorter than the period actually worked, establishing the existence and actual duration of the employment relationship becomes particularly important.

Access to Legal Rights for Foreign Nationals in Türkiye

The legal issues encountered by foreign nationals living in Türkiye are not limited to residence permits, citizenship or immigration law. Foreign nationals who work, invest, establish companies or conduct business in Türkiye may encounter a broad range of legal matters arising under labour law, social security law, commercial law, corporate law and other areas of private law.

Access to accurate legal information concerning rights and obligations, wherever possible in a person’s own language, is therefore important in preventing potential loss of rights.

The multilingual legal services provided within DG Legal Global are aimed at facilitating access to legal assistance for foreign individuals and legal entities with legal or commercial ties to Türkiye.

The participation of our lawyer Handan Musullu in Syria TV’s Almahjer program represents one example of this approach to contributing to public legal awareness.

Alongside its work involving different jurisdictions and legal systems, DG Legal Global continues to provide legal services concerning matters faced by foreign nationals in Türkiye, including labour and social security law, immigration and foreigners law, commercial and corporate law, and other areas of private law.