Job Discussion Forums

lexharvey · Joined: 26 Feb 2011 Posts: 51 Location: iow

Hi

I am having trouble finding out about the work visa and what rules are applies and what rights it gives you.

We have been told for example by our employers that if we are sacked fron this job, we will not be able to gain another work permit for 2 years. How do i find out about my work permit and what it means for me. for example if i leave before my contract is up etc....

I have had no luck in a reply from the british consulate here or the turkish one in London.

any help is much appreciated!

billy orr · Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Posts: 229

It might depend on the reason for being fired, there has to be a good one. If they are so terrible, why don't you just resign? And it may depend on who the employer is, and who they are regulated by, ie. university regulated by y�k, school or language school by MEB.

If you haven't done anything wrong, it is just bluster.

lexharvey · Joined: 26 Feb 2011 Posts: 51 Location: iow

hi

thanks, yes i want to resign anyway but we want to know the rules as well as we do not know anything and they are telling us stuff which we think is not true. I want to have all the info before I act.
does anyone know where i can get this information from?

Qigong · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 8 Location: Turkey

The rules here in Turkey are vague and challenging to meet even with the most diligent employer. I would suggest staying and completing your contract if at all possible. What happens in the Turkish paperchase is changing and probably dependent upon variables and rules, some written some not, that we will never fully know or understand.

lexharvey · Joined: 26 Feb 2011 Posts: 51 Location: iow

thanks but there is no way i am staying until june in this job!

Qigong · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 8 Location: Turkey

I guess another way to look at this is you have rules and reality. They may or may not cross-connect.

The rules are under the Ministry of Labor and Labor of National Education and the Turkish court system. Good luck trying to navigate through these government agencies. Also, a player is whatever the contract you signed and agreed to said. Hopefully, you signed a contract, it was translated correctly into English, and you understand the consequences of breaking it. Since you are asking these questions you may not have done this.

The reality is the contract you are under is somewhat of a handshake of trust. The reality is if you try and go to court to fight something like this you are severely handicapped. First the court system here is completely different than UK or USA. Second, is the cost of going to court will far exceed anything you may hope to gain. Another reality, what are the odds that a Turkish court is going to rule in favor of a foreigner? Lastly, you may not find out till after the fact.

In terms of your decision please try and consider you own CV and references and those who will come after you looking for a job with the same employer.

Good luck with your situation.

lucia79 · Joined: 18 Jun 2011 Posts: 156

lexharvey · Joined: 26 Feb 2011 Posts: 51 Location: iow

thanks,
I am not wanting to dispute anything in our contract, just I want to leave and make sure there is no come back.

tarte tatin · Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Posts: 247 Location: Istanbul

If your work permit and residence visa are linked, the residence visa will get cancelled when you leave your job and according to a new ruling you have to leave Turkey for 30 days before applying for a new one. A friend of mine has just got caught out with that.

I am not sure what happens about work permits in the case of getting fired. A friend of mine recently resigned and signed up with a new university and got a new work permit just fine.

Unfortunately, with Turkish bureaucracy I think it very much depends on who you deal with.

lexharvey · Joined: 26 Feb 2011 Posts: 51 Location: iow

hi, yes thats what im worried about. also they are saying we dont get the paper work for the work visa-they keep it .... but surely we need to have that paper work on us like the residence permit. my work last permit (last year) was in same blue book but i think its changed since then

billy orr · Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Posts: 229

You can apply for a new residence permit if you leave the job.

lexharvey · Joined: 26 Feb 2011 Posts: 51 Location: iow

so they are linked--the work visa and residence? i dont have the bank funds for anew residence permit

Englishteach · Joined: 01 Oct 2010 Posts: 33

Maybe your company keeps the paperwork related to your work visa and related residence permit but you should have a little booklet with your picture and information about your job and where you live. Inside this booklet, Ikamet (in Turkish), there is some information. Most of these Turks will tell you anything to keep you in line and try to intimidate you.

lexharvey · Joined: 26 Feb 2011 Posts: 51 Location: iow

ok, i have my residence (blue book) but nothing in it about job. yes they ate trying to intimidate me as they are the recruitment agency for the school and making money from me so want to try and make me stay as long as possible so can make as much as possible. i just want to make sure my residence permit will still be valid basically if i leave.

billy orr · Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Posts: 229

Does it not say that the permit is for employment somewhere in the blue book?

Someone I know was fired by a state university, and the university informed the police so her residence permit was canceled, but she did not know. When she came to leave Turkey she was detained and fined for not having a valid residence permit.

There has been another case on daves where someone could not be appointed at a university because another university had completed employment procedures for her, but she had never taken up that post.

I do not think that will definitely happen to you, but it seems to be a possibility. More than likely the threats are just bluster, but they could be bloody-minded and cause problems for you. A residence permit for a few months is not very expensive, and many people borrow the bank funds needed to show.