Domestic workers also have important rights under the social security system. Regardless of how many days they work in a month, they fall under compulsory insurance. The insurance status of domestic workers is arranged differently depending on whether they work 9 days or fewer in a month, or 10 days and more.
Pay Attention to the 9-Day Rule for Domestic Work
The insurance status of domestic workers depends on the 9-day threshold. Those who work for the same individual for 9 days or fewer in a month are considered compulsorily insured. Their notification to the social security institution (SGK), the applicable insurance branches, and the premium amounts are determined differently compared to workers who exceed that threshold.
For domestic workers who work 9 days or fewer per month, notifications to SGK can be made via the e-Government (e-Devlet) portal or submitted on paper at social security centers. If a notification is required for a domestic worker who worked less than 10 days, the e-Government option for 4/A “less than 10 days” domestic worker employer application and debt inquiry can be used. When reporting a domestic worker who works 9 days or fewer as insured, the employer must also prepare the workplace declaration, the insured person’s entry declaration, the monthly premium and service statement, and the employment termination declaration if applicable. Once the registration form is completed and the registration is processed, if the worker continues to work less than 10 days in subsequent months and this is indicated on the form, monthly repeat notifications are not required. Note that SGK does not accept reporting foreign nationals as domestic workers under the 9-day scheme; this exception applies only to Turkish citizens.
Premium Amounts for Domestic Workers
If a domestic worker works 9 days or fewer in a month, the employer must pay a work accident and occupational disease insurance premium equal to 2% of the daily minimum wage for each day worked. For example, in 2020 the daily insurance amount for those working less than 10 days was calculated as 98.10 x 2 / 100 = 1.96 TRY per day.
Premiums for domestic workers who work 9 days or fewer must be collected under the EK-9 “Less Than 10 Days Collection” option and paid by the end of the month following the month in which the work occurred. Payment can be made via bank transfer or through the e-Government system using the card-based premium payment option.
Status of Domestic Workers Who Work More Than 10 Days
If a domestic worker works more than 10 days in a month, a different premium regime applies. These workers are subject to all insurance branches as with regular insured employees. Their premiums must be paid on a declared earnings base between the minimum wage and 7.5 times the minimum wage, at a rate of 37.5%. Employers must complete the Ek-2 declaration “For Domestic Workers Working 10 Days and More” and submit it on paper to the SGK office that has jurisdiction over the worker’s place of residence. The declaration must be delivered to SGK no later than the last day of the month in which the work began; otherwise, failure to submit within this period may result in an administrative fine equal to the minimum wage.
After the declaration is submitted to SGK, the declared number of working days and the earnings base used to calculate premiums will determine the amount automatically reflected to the bank for monthly payment.