Turkish Court of Cassation mandates registration of missing pandemic-era SGK premiums

The Turkish Court of Cassation has issued a final ruling regarding the registration of missing social security (SGK) premium days for employees who worked during the pandemic. The case involved an academic at a foundation university who claimed to have worked full-time and without interruption via online lessons between December 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021.

Despite the continuous work, the academic's SGK records showed incomplete premium days. Following a lawsuit, the Labor Court reviewed evidence including online course records, digital education system data, witness testimonies, and expert reports, ultimately ruling that the academic had indeed worked during that period. The court ordered the addition of 189 missing service days to the individual's records.

Both the university and the Social Security Institution appealed the decision. However, the Regional Court of Justice upheld the ruling, and the Court of Cassation's 10th Civil Chamber subsequently affirmed the decision, finding no procedural errors. This ruling serves as a legal precedent for other employees who may have missing service days due to pandemic-era remote work arrangements.