Can an SGK-insured bank teller in Turkey run a thMenu affiliate side hustle on weekends? A Konya branch employee asked exactly that — and the answer lives in the intersection of Labour Law 4857 and Banking Law 5411.
Labour Law Article 18 and the Duty of Loyalty
Turkish Labour Law does not directly say "side hustles are forbidden". However article 18 grants employers a valid termination right, and Code of Obligations article 396 imposes a duty of loyalty: no compete, no work during working hours, no use of customer data or trade secrets.
In practice there are three red lines: (1) competing work in the same sector, (2) side activity during working hours, and (3) using the employer's equipment or know-how. Outside of these, a weekend hobby, freelance writing or passive affiliate income is generally safe.
Bank Employees: Banking Law 5411 Article 75
Rules are stricter for bank employees. Banking Law article 75 and SPK regulations add extra conditions on commercial activity and securities trading. Most banks include a "commercial activity requires approval" clause in their internal rules.
- Approval required: Sole proprietorship, partnership, board position in another company.
- Usually allowed: Royalties, rental income, passive affiliate commission via a personal link.
- Strictly forbidden: Using customer data, working for a competitor bank, side activity during work hours.
A Konya Affiliate: How They Stay Clear of Trouble
A bank clerk in central Konya recommends thMenu to restaurant owners via Instagram in the evenings and earns 4,500 TL passive commission per month. They do three things right: (1) the contract has an "approved with consent" clause and HR signed off in writing; (2) all activity happens outside working hours; (3) income is declared as incidental income, staying below the 230,000 TL/year 2026 threshold.
The key: you can declare incidental income without losing SGK 4/A status. Once activity becomes regular, SGK 4/B (Bag-Kur) kicks in and you pay double social security. The thMenu affiliate dashboard's monthly cap report helps you stay under the limit.
FAQ
Can an insured employee in Turkey have a side hustle? Yes — provided there is no competition, no work during hours and no use of employer resources. Always check your contract.
Is written approval mandatory? Not legally, but most internal regulations require it. For banks, public sector and large holdings, obtain written approval.
Does affiliate income affect SGK status? Not while it remains incidental. Once it becomes regular, 4/B is triggered — consult an accountant.
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