The hotline to report employers who hire uninsured, illegal workers to the Social Security Institution (SGK) is ALO 170. Through ALO 170, the SGK’s communication line, you can submit complaints and requests related to many matters under the institution’s authority. Operating daily and available around the clock, ALO 170 functions as a general complaint and information line. It accepts reports on a variety of issues, including employing uninsured workers.
What Situations Can Be Reported to ALO 170?
Common complaints received by ALO 170 include:
- Employing workers without insurance
- Mobbing and workplace abuse
- Unlawful dismissal
- Wage-related disputes
- Overtime problems
- Severance pay and notice compensation
These topics fall within the SGK’s jurisdiction and can be addressed through the institution. Employees or former employees who experience such issues with their workplace can easily submit complaints to the SGK. Authorities review incoming applications, requests and complaints and aim to resolve them promptly.
How to Report Employing Uninsured Workers?
Reports of employing uninsured workers can be made using one of the following methods:
- ALO 170 hotline
- Written petition (dilekçe)
- CİMER (Presidential Communication Center)
Anyone who knows of or personally experiences uninsured employment can file a written complaint with the SGK. ALO 170 provides guidance on petition details. Petitions are addressed to the Social Security Center Directorate or the Provincial Social Security Directorate. Including a completed complaint form with the petition notifies authorities of the uninsured employment allegation.
What is CİMER?
CİMER (Presidential Communication Center) is a public institution that collects citizens’ complaints and requests and forwards them quickly to the relevant authorities. Submitting a complaint through the official CİMER portal ensures that the matter proceeds through administrative channels; once correctly submitted, complaints are processed and typically concluded within 30 business days.
How to Prove Employing Uninsured Workers?
Evidence to prove uninsured employment may include:
- Witness statements
- Pay slips or bank receipts showing payments to an uninsured person
- Camera footage
- Any document demonstrating that a person worked without insurance
The items above are accepted as evidence in uninsured employment complaints. It is important to note that the complainant is generally expected to have been working at the workplace when filing the report. A person who has already left the job may face challenges in filing a complaint to the SGK on this matter.
How to Report Uninsured Employment After Leaving the Job?
Reporting uninsured employment after leaving is usually pursued through labor courts. Complaints made after employment has ended often face practical difficulties because proving prior employment can be complex. Employers commonly deny having employed a person without insurance, and claimants typically need strong evidence. Without solid proof, the chances of a successful court outcome are lower.
Is There a Reward for Reporting Employers Who Hire Uninsured Workers?
The reward for reporting uninsured employment corresponds to the fine imposed on the employer. Employing workers illegally is prohibited by law and harms both workers’ rights and the national economy. To encourage reporting, individuals who notify authorities of uninsured employment may receive a monetary reward equal to the penalty imposed on the employer once the case is concluded.
Is a Report of Uninsured Employment Confidential?
Whether the identity of the person reporting uninsured employment is kept confidential depends on the type of complaint. For transparency during the process, individual complaints may not have identities fully concealed; in some cases, the complainant’s name can be shared with the employer. However, when complaints are submitted collectively, the identities of complainants are kept confidential. This approach applies to reports made via ALO 170 or written petitions.
Where to Report Foreign Workers Without Work Permits?
Reporting foreign workers who lack a work permit can also be done through ALO 170. As with domestic workers, you may submit a petition or file a CİMER complaint regarding unauthorized foreign employment. Penalties for hiring workers without permits are severe and may apply to both employer and employee; in some cases, deportation may be pursued.
What Is the Penalty for Employing Unauthorized Foreign Workers?
Penalties for illegal employment of foreign nationals (as of 2021) are listed below:
| ADMINISTRATIVE FINE | 2021 AMOUNT |
| Employer or employer’s representative who employs a foreign national without a work permit (per foreign national). | 11,796 TL |
| Foreign national working for an employer without a work permit | 4,716 TL |
| Foreign national working independently without a work permit | 9,438 TL |
Failure to meet notification obligations within the timeframes set in Article 22 of the law for:
|
784 TL |
Previously, businesses established by foreign nationals without permission were closed down. Under more recent decisions, these workplaces are no longer closed; instead, fines are imposed on those who set up and operate such businesses.
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Are Illegal Foreign Workers Deported?
Deportation of uninsured foreign workers is under the authority of the Ministry of Interior. If the ministry decides on deportation, related costs may be charged to the employer. Employers can be required to cover accommodation expenses for the worker and their family during the process, travel costs for returning to their home country, and in some cases, medical expenses.
Can an Employer Voluntarily Declare They Employed Uninsured Workers?
Employers who voluntarily report that they employed uninsured workers may face a reduced fine. The penalty for declaring uninsured employment voluntarily is 3,044 TL for one year of employment. Compared to the fines imposed after formal complaints or inspections, this amount is relatively modest. The SGK does not tolerate uninsured employment due to its negative impact on the economy and workers’ rights.
How Much Is the Penalty for Employing Uninsured Workers?
Penalties for employing uninsured workers are calculated as follows:
- For employers required to keep accounts on a balance-sheet basis: 38 times the minimum wage
- For other employers required to keep books: 32 times the minimum wage
- For employers not required to keep books: 19 times the minimum wage
These are the primary punitive measures; additional sanctions may also apply, such as:
- Penalties for failing to submit required documents to SGK
- Liability for medical costs if an uninsured worker suffers a workplace accident or occupational disease
- Additional premiums and penalties for the uninsured worker
- Disqualification of employers from receiving certain state incentives
What Is the Penalty for Not Reporting a Workplace Accident?
Fines for failing to report a workplace accident vary depending on the severity of the accident and the number of injured workers. For lower-risk workplaces, the fines are as follows:
Workplaces with fewer than 10 employees — Failure to report a workplace accident
| Low Risk (base amount) | 5,115 TL |
| Medium Risk (+25%) | 6,393 TL |
| High Risk (+50%) | 7,672 TL |
Workplaces with 10–49 employees — Failure to report a workplace accident
| Low Risk (base amount) | 45,115 TL |
| Medium Risk (+50%) | 7,672 TL |
| High Risk (+100%) | 10,230 TL |
Workplaces with more than 50 employees — Failure to report a workplace accident
| Low Risk (+50%) | 7,672 TL |
| Medium Risk (+100%) | 10,230 TL |
| High Risk (+200%) | 15,345 TL |
Whether or not uninsured employment is involved, workplace accidents must be reported to the SGK within three working days.