Due to the Covid-19 virus, necessary precautions have been taken by the organizations; within the scope of these precautions, the possibility of unauthorized access to personal data has emerged, including health data of employees or third parties. Organizations should be very careful to avoid possible violations which might directly impact the rights and freedoms of persons when taking relevant preventive measures. In this process, organizations can follow the methods in the precautions to be taken, which are elaborated as follows:

1. Remote Working

In order to ensure business continuity, an organization may go for the option of remote working in this period. In such case, if organizations do not already have sufficient technical infrastructure, certain difficulties may be faced. For example, within the scope of this measure taken to protect public health, the personal phone numbers of people who do not use the company phone for communication between people, other employees, business partners, customers, suppliers etc., can be shared with third parties. While this transfer/sharing of information has a legitimate aim, it is well known that it must be based on the explicit consent of individuals. In cases where people do not give explicit consent or withdraw their explicit consent, providing a company line to the person would be an appropriate solution.

Per the Covid-19 pandemic fact treated Türkiye rapidly, The President has announced new regulations that will be in force soon.

The topics on that announcement related to work life can be listed as below:

Per the Covid-19 pandemic fact treated the whole world, Organizations started to take precautions to prevent further spread of the virus.

Based on that officials have announced many personal and social precaution methods as; personal hygiene rules, avoid from crowded environment and public transport if possible, avoid from close communications and stay at home after foreign travels for 14 days to be on the safe side. In addition to these ways, the employers consider some methods in parallel with the above to keep their work environment safe and health.

Due to the fact that huge volume of activities have stopped in some sectors due to the coronavirus pandemic and employers have started to implement flexible work or leave opportunities.

You can find the details of the legislative methods that can be chosen by the employers:

Covid-19 virus in Türkiye as well as all over the world, deeply affects human health, social and economic life. Due to the setbacks in working life and economy, declaration and payment periods of the annual income tax declarations, which must be declared until 31.03.2020, have been extended.

Ministry of Treasury and Finance annouced that the deadline for 2019 Annual Income Tax Declarations and first installment of tax payment which is 31 March 2020 was postponed to 30 April 2020.

Relevant circular in Turkish regarding the subject can be accessed from here.