Middle East Technical University (METU) formally recognizes and guarantees fundamental labor rights—specifically freedom of association and collective bargaining—for all employees without exception, including female personnel, international staff, academic faculty, administrative officers, and campus operational workers. This recognition is statutorily anchored in Turkish Public Employment Legislation and Higher Education Governance Decrees, fully operationalized through active union representation and executed collective labor agreements.

1. Comprehensive Statutory and Legal Framework

All employment practices, wage scales, social security guarantees, and labor union rights at METU are governed by strict national statutory laws and decrees:

• Public Servants & Academic Staff Governance:
• State Personnel Act No. 657: Guarantees fundamental rights, security of tenure, grievance procedures, and freedom of association for public officers.
• Higher Education Act No. 2547 & Higher Education Personnel Law No. 2914: Regulates employment conditions, academic promotions, and salary structures for academic personnel.
• Decree Law No. 124, Decree Law No. 190, & Law No. 2809: Regulates the institutional organization, administrative positions, and staffing procedures of higher education institutions.
• Decree Law No. 631: Regulates financial and social rights of civil servants and public officials.
• Contracted Workers & Social Security Protection:
• Labour Act No. 4857: Governs employment contracts, workplace safety, working hours, and union rights for contracted and operational workers.
• Pension Fund Law No. 5434 & Social Security Law No. 506: Guarantees comprehensive retirement, health, and social security coverage for all university staff.

2. Freedom of Association & Public Multi-Union Disclosure

All METU employees, regardless of gender or nationality, enjoy complete statutory freedom to join and participate in trade unions.

• Pluralistic Representation: As publicly disclosed by METU in compliance with Article 25, Paragraph 2 of Law No. 4688, a total of 1,530 staff members are active registered members across 11 recognized trade unions (including ÜNİ-PER-SEN, EĞİTİM SEN, TÜRK EĞİTİM SEN, EĞİTİM-İŞ, and EĞİTİM BİR SEN).

3. Executed Collective Bargaining Agreements

• Permanent & Operational Workers: Covered by METU’s signed Enterprise Collective Labour Agreement executed on 27 August 2025 with the Tez-Koop-İş trade union and TÜHİS under Labour Law No. 4857 and Law No. 6356.

Law No. 2809 on the Amendment and Adoption of Decree Law No. 41 on the Organization of Higher Education Institutions: https://www5.tbmm.gov.tr/tutanaklar/KANUNLAR_KARARLAR/kanuntbmmc080/kanuntbmmc080/kanuntbmmc08004281.pdf

Decree Law No. 124 on the Administrative Organization of Higher Education Institutions and Higher Supreme Organizations:

https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/MevzuatMetin/4.5.124.pdf

Decree Law No. 190 on General Staff and Procedures: https://mevzuat.gov.tr/MevzuatMetin/24.5.190.pdf

State Personnel Act No. 657:   https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=657&MevzuatTur=1&MevzuatTertip=5

Higher Education Act No. 2547: https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=2547&MevzuatTur=1&MevzuatTertip=5

Higher Education Personnel Law No. 2914:

http://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuatmetin/1.5.2914.pdf

Republic of Turkey Pension Fund Law No. 5434:

http://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/MevzuatMetin/1.3.5434.pdf

Labour Act No. 4857: https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=4857&MevzuatTur=1&MevzuatTertip=5

Social Security Law No. 506:

http://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/MevzuatMetin/1.5.506.pdf

Decision Law on Regulations on The Financial and Social Rights of Civil Servants and Other Public Officials and on Amendments in Some Laws and Decision Laws (no.631):

https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=631&MevzuatTur=4&MevzuatTertip=5