Amendments To Labor Law Through Omnibus Law

Law No. 7244 on Reducing the Effects of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic on Economic and Social Life and the Amendment of Certain Laws (the "Omnibus Law") was published in the Official Gazette last Friday, 17 April 2020. The Omnibus Law brings a number of amendments, some of which have a significant importance from an employment law perspective.

I. Restriction on Termination of Employment Contracts

One of the most important amendments introduced through the Omnibus Law is the restriction on unilateral termination of employment contracts by employers. For the purposes of sustaining employment relationships, the Omnibus Law prohibits termination of employees' (regardless of whether or not they are covered by the Labor Law) contracts by employers, for a term of three months starting from 17 April 2020 (the "Restriction Period"). The only exception to this restriction is terminations due to employees' immoral, dishonorable or malicious conduct or other similar