Turkey Approves Night Shift Work for Vocational High School Students

Turkey's Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin, has officially confirmed that students in Vocational Training Centers (MESEM) can be employed on night shifts. The policy was revealed in the minister's written response to a parliamentary question from İskender Bayhan, a lawmaker from the Workers' Party of Turkey (EMEP). MESEMs are part of Turkey's education system, allowing students to combine classroom learning with apprenticeship work in companies. In his response, Minister Tekin stated that the current legislation permits MESEM students to work night shifts. He cited the Vocational Education Law, which aligns student work terms with the broader Turkish Labor Law. This law generally prohibits night work for those under 18, but includes an exception for vocational training students. The announcement formalizes a practice that has been a subject of debate. It means adolescent students in these programs can legally be scheduled for industrial or commercial work during night hours as part of their training. Lawmaker Bayhan's original inquiry sought clarity on the rules governing child labor and working conditions within the MESEM system.