The status of a journalist working at TRT is governed in one of the most complex articles of the Law. Article 50 sets different forms of employment side by side.
The General Rule - Art. 50, Opening
The personnel of the Turkish Radio-Television Corporation are subject to the personnel regime of public economic establishments apart from the provisions set out below.
Special Grades for News and Programme Services - Subparagraph (a)
Of those who directly perform and carry out the Corporation's news and programme services:
| Level of education | Entry grade | Grade to which they may rise |
|---|---|---|
| Those who have completed higher education | The first step of grade 8 | The final step of grade 1 |
| Those who have not completed higher education | The first step of grade 10 | The final step of grade 3 |
Where the Ban on Other Work Does Not Apply
Subparagraph (c): the provisions on the prohibition of other work and service are not applied to those to be assigned from outside the Corporation in carrying out the Corporation's news and programme services.
Art. 53/2: groups to be formed of those working in artist posts, those serving in administrator, expert, chief and similar posts by reason of their artistic character, and presenters, announcers and technicians may be given duties by the Director General in concerts, festivals and similar artistic activities at home and abroad, provided their principal duties are not disrupted. In that case the provisions on the prohibition of other work and service are not applied and those assignments are not deemed the giving of a second duty.
Four Forms of Employment
| Status | Basis | Who determines it? |
|---|---|---|
| Civil servant | Law No. 657 + Art. 50 | The general provisions |
| Contracted personnel against an established post | Art. 50/g (Amended: No. 7548 - 2025) | Examination, recruitment, appointment and promotion: the Board of Directors; financial and social rights: the President on the proposal of the Board of Directors |
| Personnel subject to private law provisions | Arts. 50/h and /ı (Amended: No. 7548 - 2025) - Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098 | Employment, contract, termination, compensation and wages: the Board of Directors |
| Adviser to the Director General | Art. 50/g (Amended: No. 5767 - 2008) | At most ten persons - in order to benefit from their special knowledge and expertise |
Subparagraph (ı) defines personnel subject to private law provisions: personnel of Turkish or foreign nationality employed through an examination to be held by the Corporation whose procedures and principles are determined by the Board of Directors, and who may be assigned to managerial posts.
Bonuses and Overtime
- Article 51 (Amended: 13/4/1988-Decree-Law No. 322/2): a bonus not exceeding four months' wages a year may be given to established or private law personnel on the proposal of the Director General and with the approval of the Board of Directors.
- Article 52: overtime may be worked for payment; the principles and the period are determined by regulation, provided the period does not exceed twice that granted for other State personnel and the hourly rate remains tied to the amounts granted for civil servants.
- Additional Article 1: overtime payment is made to personnel actually serving in news, programme and technical services (excluding shift work).
Travel Allowance - Subparagraph (j)
On assignment on temporary duty within the country outside the place of employment, a daily allowance is paid in the amount determined by decision of the Board of Directors, not exceeding twice the daily allowances determined in the Budget Law for the equivalent civil servant under Travel Allowance Law No. 6245. In addition, the ten-day limitation in Art. 33 of Law No. 6245 is not taken into account.
Permission to Investigate - Subparagraph (k)
(Amended: 21/5/2025-7548/7) Investigations concerning offences alleged to have been committed by the personnel of the Directorate General in connection with their duties are conducted under Law No. 4483 on the Prosecution of Civil Servants and Other Public Officials, and permission to investigate is given by the Director General.
Training and Other Rights
- Article 54: the Corporation provides its personnel with opportunities for education, training and specialisation at home and abroad, opens courses and may give scholarships to students under the provisions of Law No. 1416.
- Article 55: it is empowered to build and purchase housing to be allocated as lodgings against rent to personnel.
- Art. 53/1: the recruitment, appointment, transfer, removal from duty and promotion of personnel are carried out by the Director General.
The Director General's Financial Rights
Article 13 (Amended together with its heading: 21/5/2025-7548/5): the Director General is paid the salary and contract fee (including bonus) received by the highest civil servant. In monthly payments the additional indicator, seniority and base salaries and the social aid, increments and allowances are taken as a basis.
We cover all the 2025 amendments in the Law No. 7548 guide.
Summary
TRT personnel are subject to the personnel regime of public economic establishments apart from the provisions in the Law. Separate entry and promotion grades are provided for those who directly carry out news and programme services. Civil servants, contracted personnel against an established post and private law personnel subject to Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098 work at the Corporation together; the procedures and principles of the last two statuses were rewritten in 2025 by Law No. 7548.