Guide
Make-up work in Türkiye: how and when unworked time is made up
Updated:
Make-up work is working later the time that was not worked, and it is not overtime. That is why its limits are strict: for which reasons, within how long and for how many hours a day. This guide walks through art. 64.
What is make-up work?
It is work the employer has done later for time not worked for certain reasons (art. 64). Make-up work is neither overtime nor work beyond contractual hours; it earns no premium and does not use up the 270-hour annual overtime cap.
When is it allowed?
- Work stops for compelling reasons.
- The workplace closes before or after national or public holidays (e.g. bridge days).
- For similar reasons the workplace works substantially below normal hours or closes entirely.
- The employee is given leave at their own request.
Because the list is set out in the law, not every shortfall can be made up. A gap the employer imposes alone because orders are low, for example, needs careful assessment if it is not a “compelling reason”.
Period: four months
The employer may have make-up work done within four months for the time not worked; the President may extend this up to twice as long (art. 64). The period was raised from two to four months by Law No. 7226 in 2020, which is why older sources say “two months”.
Daily limit and the holiday ban
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Daily make-up | No more than 3 hours a day |
| Daily ceiling | With make-up, no more than 11 hours a day |
| Holidays | No make-up work on rest days or holidays |
| Pay | Not overtime; no premium |
Source: Turkish Labour Law No. 4857 art. 64 and art. 63.
Example. The workplace closed on a bridge day before a holiday; a 7.5-hour working day was not worked. Since make-up is limited to 3 hours a day, the time is made up over at least three days (3 + 3 + 1.5 hours), within four months, on days that are not weekly rest days or public holidays. On make-up days daily work must not exceed 11 hours.
How to record make-up work in the timesheet
If make-up hours are written in the overtime column, an unnecessary premium is paid and the 270-hour counter fills up wrongly; if they are not recorded at all, the weekly total appears to exceed 45. The right way is to match the gap and the make-up hours in the same record and keep them as a separate item.
Our workforce management system has no separate record type for make-up work: clock-in records measure the time correctly, but the manager and accountant have to mark these hours as make-up when approving the timesheet. If the weekly total exceeds 45 hours, the system shows the overtime calculation; it cannot know by itself that the hours were make-up work.
This guide is for information only and is not legal or payroll advice. Your collective agreement or employment contract may contain more favourable terms.
Make-up work: frequently asked questions
Within how many months must make-up work be done?
The employer may have make-up work done within four months for the time not worked (art. 64). The President may extend this up to twice as long. The period was raised from two months to four months in 2020.
How many hours a day can make-up work be?
Make-up work may not exceed 3 hours a day and may not take the day beyond the 11-hour maximum (art. 64). No make-up work may be done on holidays, meaning weekly rest days and public holidays.
Is overtime pay due for make-up work?
No. The law expressly says make-up work is not overtime or work beyond contractual hours (art. 64). No premium arises and it does not count towards the 270-hour annual overtime cap.
Can leave requested by the employee be made up?
Yes. Leave granted at the employee’s request is one of the make-up reasons listed in art. 64. The time not worked may be made up within four months, at most 3 hours a day and outside holidays.
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