Türkiye Eases Work Rules: Istanbul-based Kazakh Journalist Provides Clarification

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has signed a decree simplifying employment procedures for citizens of Turkic countries, Orda.kz reports.

Under the new rules, they may now work in government agencies and private companies, except for the army and security forces. The requirement for Turkish citizenship for residency and employment has also been lifted. However, not everything is as straightforward as it seems.

Istanbul-based journalist Zhamilya Abenova shared additional details on her Facebook page that have not been widely discussed.

There are 10 very interesting points — conditions under which a foreigner is exempt from obtaining a work permit. These include, of course, having a Turkish residence permit (which is currently difficult to obtain unless you've bought an apartment for $200,000, married a Turkish citizen, or enrolled in university). You also need to prove your qualifications, recognize the equivalence of your diplomas and certificates, be law-abiding, and so on,
 writes Abenova.

Number nine: you must prove that you are unable to work in your country of citizenship due to uncontrollable reasons or that you are forced to stay in Türkiye. And number 10: you must have an ethnic/cultural identity distinct from the majority in your country of citizenship. Think about it, compatriots! If you're Kazakh and live in Kazakhstan, where the majority are Kazakh, you won't be able to prove that you're ethnically different. And presenting evidence that you're not in demand in your country for your specialty is completely unrealistic,
 the journalist believes.

These are Meskhetians, Uyghurs, and Crimean Tatars. They already receive long-term residence permits and other benefits. And now they will be allowed to work here.

Original Author: Oksana Matvienko