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Work Permits

NEW GOVERNMENT MOVES FAST TO CLEAN UP ITS OWN ACT AND MAKE FOREIGNERS' LIFE EASIER

The new coalition hit the ground running this week, announcing measures aimed at slashing red tape and ending hassle and discrimination affecting expatriates.

Reduced medical care charges to foreigners and a streamlined system for issuing work permits - including an end to the twin-track health test charges for Turks and so-called "third country" nationals - were brought into force this week.

The new system should also mean work permits being issued within a matter of days, instead of months, it was pledged - good news for businesses which have otherwise risked fines for employing workers while they waited to become legal.

Labour and Social Security Minister Sonay Adem issued a statement confirming the work permit reforms had come into effect this week.

"We are reforming the system so that work permit applications can be sorted out quickly and efficiently".

"The whole process for such applications used to take five or six months to complete but now it should take between two to three days with everything being done by one department".

Officials at Mr Adem's ministry yesterday confirmed that the fee for both Turks and other nationals was now 100YTL (�35) for health tests and 130YTL (₤46) for the work permit.

Mr Adem reminded all non-citizens that they needed to obtain work permits via their employers, and reminded businesses that they risked a fine equal to the minimum wage - 860YTL (�302) for each illegal worker they employed. In addition, they would not be allowed to apply for new work permits or to renew existing ones for a year.