The Omnibus Bill Has Been Approved by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey! According to breaking news, the Omnibus Bill has been approved in Parliament. The bill, which affects millions of citizens, has passed the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Accordingly, procedures such as initiating enforcement proceedings, filing complaints, applications, lawsuits, and objections have been suspended until April 30, 2020. From March 1, 2020 until June 30, 2020, nonpayment of commercial rent will not be grounds for termination of lease agreements or eviction. This provision takes effect as of March 1, 2020.
The global coronavirus pandemic and the measures taken to fight COVID-19 continue to increase worldwide. In Turkey, many banks and other financial institutions have announced three-month deferrals for rent payments as part of pandemic relief. The Omnibus Bill approved last night in the Grand National Assembly includes the following measures and provisions introduced to address the crisis.
What Are the Provisions in the Omnibus Bill?
Below are the main measures included in the Omnibus Bill regarding the fight against the coronavirus.
- For individuals and legal entities whose principal or installment payment dates were before March 24, 2020 and who have delayed payments on cash or non-cash loans — including principal, interest, or ancillary fees — records held at the Banks Association of Turkey Risk Center will not be taken into account by credit and financial institutions for those financial transactions if the delayed portion of the debt is fully repaid or restructured by December 31, 2020.
- Under an amendment to the Cheques Law, enforcement of sentences for offenses committed up to March 24, 2020 will be suspended.
- From March 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020, failure to pay commercial rent will not constitute grounds for lease termination or eviction; this rule is effective from March 1, 2020.
- The obligation to make up general health insurance premiums for missing days of employees who work 10 days or more per month — including part-time employees, payroll-based staff and domestic service workers — has been lifted.
- All statutory time limits related to the birth, exercise or termination of rights — including filing lawsuits, initiating enforcement proceedings, applications, complaints, objections, notices, submissions, statutes of limitation, forfeiture periods and mandatory administrative application periods — are postponed until April 30, 2020.
- The Treasury and Finance Minister’s authority to provide cash resources to credit guarantee institutions or to issue special series Government Domestic Borrowing Securities has been increased from 25 billion TL to 35 billion TL.
- The lodging tax originally planned to take effect on April 1, 2020 has been postponed until January 1, 2021.
- According to the draft law on amendments to certain laws approved by the Parliament’s Plan and Budget Committee, inspectors, auditors, and controllers in public service with at least five years’ tenure who pass written and oral exams may be appointed by the Minister of Culture and Tourism to inspector or chief inspector positions until December 31, 2020. The number of such appointments will not exceed 20.
- The university founded by the Hacegan Foundation in Istanbul, Semerkand University of Science and Civilization, will be renamed “Istanbul University of Health and Technology.”
- Turkish citizens who do not reside in Turkey, and those who lost Turkish citizenship after obtaining exit permits, will be allowed to join the Individual Pension System in foreign currency.
- The President will be authorized to reduce the state contribution rate to foreign currency denominated private pension contributions down to 10%.
- Disabled pensioners and war-disabled pensioners who continue working may also be granted an old-age pension, provided they have at least 20 years of insurance and 5,000 days of premium payments.
- In disputes concerning the cancellation of easement rights established in favor of investors on properties whose allocation was revoked by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, simplified judicial procedures will apply.
- Amendments to the Associations Law will require newly elected board and supervisory board members — as well as members whose membership begins or ends — to be reported. Notifications of accepted or terminated memberships must be made within 30 days.
- Associations must report the full name, date of birth and ID number of members whose membership continues within six months to the local governor’s office. Association managers who fail to submit this notification will face an administrative fine of 500 TL.
- All records, transactions and procedures related to associations under the Associations Law and the Turkish Civil Code may be conducted electronically.
- In disaster-affected areas, payment of electricity and natural gas consumption fees may be deferred for up to one year. Advertising and promotion of smoothbore shotguns, sporting and target rifles, and pistols will be prohibited.
- Offenses subject to site-blocking orders will be expanded to include acts listed in the Law on Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sporting Events.
- Providing venues or opportunities for gambling and access to publications related to crimes covered by this law may be blocked ex officio by the President of the Information and Communication Technologies Authority, regardless of whether the content or hosting provider is located abroad or in Turkey.