Newsletter-21

328 NEWSLETTER 2016 Amendments to the Labor Law Introduced by Law Numbered 6663* Att. Alper Uzun Introduction The Law on the Amendment to the Income Tax Law numbered 6663 (“Law No. 6663”) and Other Certain Laws was accepted on 29.01.2016 and entered into force through publication in the Official Gazette dated 10.02.2016 and numbered 29620. As is evident by its name, Law No. 6663 is considered as an “omnibus law,” and amended various laws. The most important of these laws is Labor Law num- bered 4857 and related legislation. Law No. 6663 introduces provisions providing secured flexibil- ity to business life, and strengthens rights and permissions regarding maternity periods. Amendments made by the Law Law No. 6663 grants women, adoptive parents, or one of the spouses (in the case of adoption) unpaid leave up to six months, after expiry of their maternity leave and following their adoption, or ac- knowledges the right for such persons to use unpaid leave for one-half of working hours, for a period of up to six weeks. Accordingly, the following provisions were added to Article 74 of the Labor Law entitled “Working in Maternity Period and Breast Feeding Permission:” “In the event of the post-natal death of the mother, unused leave shall be used by the father. The adoptive parent or one of the spouses who adopts a child, and who is younger than three years * Article of February 2016