COUNTRY

An employment contract in Turkmenistan may be verbal or written. The employment relationship begins not with the execution of a contract but with an order issued by the employer to hire an applicant based on their written application.

The standard workweek in Turkmenistan is 40 hours over five days with eight working hours per day, or six days with no more than seven working hours in one day. Employees between the age of 16 and 18 are limited to 36 hours per week, and employees under 16 may not work more than 24 hours in a single week. The workweek also is reduced for employees who work in particularly difficult or dangerous conditions and disabled employees. Overtime is only permitted in a few situations. Employees are entitled to extra pay for working overtime.

There is no specific statutory right to sick leave in Turkmenistan. However, employees are entitled to unpaid leave to care for a sick family member, with the length of the leave based on the recommendations of the medical institution that is caring for the relative.

Female employees receive 112 days of fully paid maternity leave in Turkmenistan, with 56 days before the estimated date of birth and 56 days after giving birth. The paid maternity leave is extended by 16 days if there are birth complications, and by 40 days in the event of multiple births. There is no statutory paternity leave beyond the option for the father to take parental leave.

Employers in Turkmenistan are not required to provide bonuses to employees. However, employers can choose to include bonuses in employees’ compensation packages. When bonuses are paid, performance-based bonuses are the most common.

The basic allotment of paid annual leave in Turkmenistan for most workers is 30 days, which they are eligible for after 11 months of employment. Teachers, heads of educational institutions, scientists, and disabled employees receive 45 days. Employees who work in particularly difficult or dangerous conditions are entitled to a minimum of three and a maximum of 15 additional vacation days per year. Air traffic controllers and certain employees in the aviation field are also entitled to 15 additional days. Employees who work irregular schedules and employees who have reached the age of 62 receive three additional vacation days each year.

In Turkmenistan, the public holidays are:

• New Year’s Day

• International Women’s Day

• Spring Holiday (Nowruz)

• Oraza Bayram

• Constitution and National Flag Day

• Kurban Bayram

• Independence Day

• Remembrance Day

• International Day of Neutrality

Turkmenistan has a public healthcare system and a small private system. In practice, in both the public and the private system, patients typically pay many costs out of pocket.

Employers in Turkmenistan can terminate an employment contract for economic or business reasons which render the employee redundant or based on the employee’s conduct or performance. The employer is obligated to notify the employee in writing. The notice period is either two weeks or two months depending on the reason for the termination.

Severance pay must be paid in most situations when the employer terminates an employment contract for a reason other than the employee’s misconduct.