Background Check In Turkey

What are the Benefits of Background Checks in Turkey?

Moving on, here we have highlighted three main benefits of running a background check in Turkey.

• Less employee turnover: A background check helps you to guarantee that you are only hiring honest and competent employees for the job. These individuals are also less likely to leave the company or urge others to leave. In this way, you can reduce the employee turnover rate at your organization.

• Protecting workplace safety: An employee background check in Turkey is a very effective tool to ensure the safety of your other employees and customers. They can help reveal criminal convictions like assault, and other offenses that can threaten the well-being of your workers. 
  Furthermore, hiring a job applicant with a disqualifying conviction without checking their background can lead to expensive legal obstacles, like negligent hiring litigations.

• Protecting your brand: The behavior, words, and actions of your employees can have a direct impact on how your customers perceive your brand. By running a background check beforehand, you can ensure that you hire only candidates whose values align with your organization’s. This can help avoid problematic behaviors online and in the real world.

What are the Types of Background Checks in Turkey?

Before onboarding any new international employee from Turkey, run the following checks for a successful hiring process.

Criminal record check

•  A Criminal Record Certificate, or Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), is an official document that verifies whether a person has been involved in any criminal activities within a specific jurisdiction.
• Most Turkish employers request it for employee screening, especially in the education and healthcare sectors.
• The employee can obtain the PCC by applying to the courthouse or authorizing a lawyer.
• If the applicant wishes, PCC will be available in multiple languages issued by foreign representatives.

Employment history check

• An employment history check is when an employer confirms an applicant’s previous work experience. This usually involves verifying details related to the candidate’s previous job roles and responsibilities, dates of employment, compensation package, and reason for leaving.
• During an employment history check, the employer will contact the organization where the candidate has worked and ask for the details. They may also request the person to share professional references whom they can contact to verify the information.
• This is mainly done to confirm that the candidate has the required skills and experience to perform the job.

Medical screening

• Certain jobs may require candidates to undergo a medical checkup to ensure they are fit for duty. This is especially important in physically demanding or safety-sensitive occupations. 
• A medical screening in Turkey usually consists of a physical examination, complete urine analysis, abdominal ultrasonography, and other similar tests.

Credit history check

• A credit history check is a search conducted through the National Judicial Information System in Turkey. 
• This is mainly done to uncover any financial irregularities related to bad payment records, bad debts, bankruptcy, and other similar issues. 
• A credit history check is an important part of employee screening in Turkey because it can reveal much information about a person's financial management. This is especially necessary for job roles at a leadership level or directly related to the company’s finances.

‍Education history check

• An education history check reveals crucial information about a job applicant’s academic history. These include their dates of attendance, degrees/certificates earned, majors, graduation dates, and so on.
• One main reason for this kind of employee screening in Turkey is to fulfill compliance requirements, especially if the job requires proof of specific training.
• Furthermore, an education history check is also done to decide the compensation level of individuals. In most instances, the more qualifications a candidate has, the higher their compensation package.

Social media check

• A social media check is when an employer assesses a candidate’s digital presence and character.
• Usually, the employer will investigate a person’s online activities on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn. 
• This type of background check is mainly used in Turkey to determine whether applicants have made derogatory remarks about their previous employers, displayed illegal or offensive behavior, or used inappropriate language on public platforms.

Requirements for Background Check in Turkey

When running a background check in Turkey, make sure that you collect the following documents from the job applicant. 

• Identity proof: passport, national identity card, driver’s license, or social security card.
• Address proof: utility bills, rental agreements, or bank statements.
• Employment history: offer letters, pay slips, reference letters, or relieving letters.
• Education verification: copies of degrees/certificates earned, mark sheets, or transcripts.
• Credit history: credit report.

Steps in Conducting Background Checks in Turkey

Here are a few essential steps that you must follow to run a successful background check in Turkey.

• Inform the individual: Notify all candidates that you will conduct a background check beforehand. You should also get explicit permission from the job applicant before you begin any verification.
• Gather the relevant information: Procure all the necessary documents as discussed above, depending on the type of check you wish to conduct.
• Conduct the check: Reach out to relevant sources to verify the information provided by the candidate. For example, if it is an education verification check, contact the educational institution and ask for the necessary details.
• ‍Review the report: After the verification, prepare and review a report thoroughly. Look for discrepancies. If there are none, inform the candidate accordingly and begin onboarding.

Are Employee Background Checks Legal in Turkey?

Yes, employers can run background checks on potential candidates in Turkey. However, they must be related to the evaluation of the individual’s fitness for the role in question.

Under the Data Protection Law No. 6698, criminal records and health records are considered to be special category personal data. Therefore, they can only be used after obtaining explicit consent from the job candidate.

Make sure that you understand and display full compliance with all the guidelines before conducting an employee screening in Turkey.

Planning to Hire in Turkey? Here’s How Skuad Can Help

Skuad’s global EOR solution allows businesses to run automated candidate screening anywhere and anytime. Our comprehensive platform guarantees compliance with all data security laws and regulations, ensuring a smooth verification process. 

You simply put in a request, and as your EOR partner we run the check on your behalf. This includes sourcing the necessary information and compiling reports based on the findings. 

‍Talk to our experts today, and make the employee background verification process more efficient only with Skuad.

FAQs

What happens during employment screening in Turkey?

During an employment screening, an employer verifies the background of a job applicant. This includes their academic history, previous work experience, criminal records, and credit history, among others. 

Is there an age limit for working in Turkey?

Under the labor laws of Turkey, it is strictly prohibited to employ children under the age of 15.

Are background checks illegal in Turkey?

No, background checks are not illegal in Turkey. However, there can be certain limitations imposed by the Data Protection Law No. 6698,  based on the type of check that you wish to conduct.