Social security rights are crucial for those in the workforce—both employers and employees. In this context, registering employees for insurance (social security registration) carries great importance. Working without insurance is prohibited for both employers and employees, and insurance registrations must be completed promptly.
Exceptions for Insurance Registrations
Under the provisions of Law No. 4447, employers were required to submit the employment declaration (insurance registration) for any employee starting work at a workplace no later than one day before the start of employment, with certain exceptions. Law No. 5510 reinforced this requirement and it remains in effect today. Accordingly, individuals covered under 4A (SSK) must have their insured employment declaration submitted to the Social Security Institution (SGK) at the latest one day before the date they begin work, vocational training, or internships. In line with Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331, employers who provide training before employees start work must also submit employment declarations no later than one day before the start date of the training.
There are, however, specific exceptions to the rule that the employment declaration must be submitted at least one day before starting work. For employees beginning work in construction, fisheries, and agriculture-centered workplaces, the employment declaration may be submitted on the day employment actually begins. Similarly, crew members hired aboard Turkish-flagged land, air, and sea transport vehicles engaged in international voyages may have their insurance declarations submitted within one month from their start date so that they take effect from the start date.
For workplaces submitting a workplace registration to the SGK for the first time, the employment declarations for insured workers who are hired after the workplace’s registration may be submitted within one month from the registration date and made effective from the employees’ start dates. It is important to note that the one-month period begins from the workplace’s registration date, while the effective date for each employee is their individual hiring date. In other words, the one-month window applies from the registration date for both the first employee who starts on the registration day and for any employees who start later.
Contracted personnel who are not covered by unemployment insurance under Law No. 4447 and public administrators hired for overseas duties at public institutions may also have their insured employment declarations submitted within one month from the date they begin working.
On Which Days Can the Employment Declaration Be Submitted?
Since the insured employment declaration can be submitted via the e-declaration system even on holidays, employers need not be deterred by weekends or public holidays when planning submissions. Employees who start work on Sunday or Monday can have their employment declaration submitted on Monday. If an employee starts on Saturday, the declaration should normally be submitted on the preceding Friday; however, if the workplace is one that is permitted to file the workplace declaration on the same day, then the employment declaration may instead be submitted on Monday.
Likewise, if the final day for submitting the employment declaration falls on an official public holiday during the workweek, the declaration should be submitted on the first business day following that holiday.
Probation Periods Must Be Insured
Under social security regulations, a so-called “probation period” has no separate legal status that exempts it from insurance. Employees in probation must still be registered for insurance. Workers whose employers fail to register them during the probation period may report the issue to the SGK.