Mobbing Prevention Circular

The Presidential Circular No. 2025/3 on the Prevention of Psychological Harassment (“Mobbing”) in Workplaces (“Circular“) was published in the Official Gazette dated March 6, 2025, and numbered 32833. This Circular aims to prevent psychological harassment, which manifests as the deliberate and systematic humiliation, mistreatment, and similar forms of abuse of employees over a certain period in the workplace. This Circular was not the first measure in preventing psychological harassment in workplaces; the “Workplace Psychological Harassment (Mobbing) Information Guide” published by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security in 2014, had also contributed to the protection of employees.

In this context, in accordance with the Circular:

1. Employees will be able to report psychological harassment to the relevant institutions (the organization they work for, the Presidential Communication Center, the Parliamentary Petition Commission, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security Communication Center (ALO 170) or directly to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey, the Ombudsman’s Office).
2. The Circular also stipulates that the Psychological Harassment Prevention Board (“Board”) will be re-established. The Board will set national policies to combat psychological harassment in the workplace and coordinate training and awareness-raising activities. It will also carry out public awareness-raising activities. The working procedures and principles of the Board will be determined by the Board itself and secretariat services will be carried out by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

• This Circular imposes the primary responsibility for combating psychological harassment onto employers and managers. Employers and managers will identify the risks that may be considered or lead to psychological harassment in the workplace and take preventive and protective policies and measures, accordingly.

1. Relevant institutions and organizations will be expected to organize comprehensive training and information activities with particular care to raise awareness and promote understanding of psychological harassment.
2. During the investigation and inquiry of workplace psychological harassment allegations, care and diligence will be exercised to prevent the violation of victims’ privacy and personal lives, as well as the harming of institutions’ and organizations’ reputations due to false claims.
3. Preventive and protective provisions regarding this issue will also be included in collective labor agreements and collective agreements.

With the new Circular, stronger measures are being implemented against psychological harassment in workplaces.