02.04.2026 16:42
The discussions on the entire bill, which includes extending maternity leave to 24 weeks and regulations for a 15-year age limit on social media, have been completed.
The Turkish Grand National Assembly Health, Family, Labor and Social Affairs Commission convened under the chairmanship of AK Party Ankara Deputy Vedat Bilgin to discuss the 'Draft Law on Amendments to the Social Services Law and Certain Laws', which includes extending maternity leave from 16 weeks to 24 weeks and a regulation regarding social media for those aged 15 and under.
In his opening remarks, Bilgin stated, "Of course, there are aspects of the social reform regulations that can be criticized. We can discuss and critique them together. With the will of the Great Assembly, these social reform issues will be resolved, contributing to the solution of many problems," he said.
The CHP proposed that the regulations regarding social media included in the draft should be examined by a sub-committee, and the DEM Party submitted a proposal regarding the unconstitutionality to the commission presidency. The proposals were unanimously rejected.
THE ENTIRE DRAFT WAS DISCUSSED
Speaking on the entire draft, DEM Party Kocaeli Deputy Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu criticized the government's family policies. Highlighting the increase in divorce rates, Gergerlioğlu called for action on this issue.
Gergerlioğlu claimed that there were some disruptions regarding the employment of children in state care in public institutions and explained that he had prepared a draft law on this matter.
Vedat Bilgin, the Chairman of the TBMM Health, Family, Labor and Social Affairs Commission, requested that a protocol be signed between the Ministries of Family and Social Services and Justice to regulate matters concerning children under state protection.
DEM Party Muş Deputy Sümeyye Boz Çakı stated that the articles of the draft should not be discussed and that the issues related to the articles should be consulted with stakeholder NGOs and associations.
"THE WILL TO PROTECT THE MENTAL AND MORAL SECURITY OF FUTURE GENERATIONS"
AK Party Bingöl Deputy Zeki Korkutata expressed that the draft law is not just a technical legislative change, but the updated conscience of the social state in response to changing societal needs.
Korkutata stated that they see social policy not merely as the distribution of aid, but as a civilizational responsibility that protects individuals, strengthens families, centers children, and supports disadvantaged individuals. He noted:
"Today, our children need protection not only on the streets but also on screens. Cyberbullying, harmful content, digital addiction, in-game purchase traps, and age-inappropriate content. All of these are new social risk areas of our time. This draft establishes a strong protective shield that does not leave our children to the uncontrolled flow of the digital world with provisions such as age verification requirements for those under 15, a separated safe service model for children, parental control tools, screen time limitation mechanisms, age ratings for games, and the prevention of misleading advertisements. This is not just an internet regulation, but also the will to protect the mental and moral security of future generations."
Korkutata emphasized that they aim to deliver rights to their rightful owners without wasting resources, stating, "The essence of the draft is this: children will be protected, women will be empowered, families will be supported, the elderly and disabled will not be left without care, social assistance will reach its true owner, and the digital world will be made safe for children. This draft is a complete re-establishment of the social state according to the conditions of the age."
DISCUSSION OF ARTICLES BEGAN
CHP Ankara Deputy Aylin Yaman claimed that the draft law is an admission of deep poverty.
Recalling the regulations regarding the Darülaceze included in the draft, Yaman stated, "The share allocated to the elderly from the central budget is not even 1%. We need to reconsider the Darülaceze model, that is, the understanding of 'we cannot allocate a budget for this, you provide it with aid.' We should be allocating a budget for our elderly with a public approach instead of trying to provide it through aid."
Yaman suggested that "the draft law would allow for central monitoring and that there are violations related to the protection of personal data in the regulation," emphasizing that the opinions of expert NGOs should be listened to much more.
After the discussions on the entire draft were completed in the commission, the discussions on the articles began.