Do these standards directly bind everyone working with young people?

Legally, these standards bind the minimum competencies that professionals to be employed under the official title of 'Youth Worker' must possess, as well as the OHS/KVKK rules they must comply with.

Are digital skills required in a youth worker?

Yes. In the communiqué, 'Social Media Literacy' and 'Knowledge of Digital Youth Work' are explicitly defined among the minimum professional knowledge and skills.

Is there a special emphasis on the safety of children and youth in the standards?

Yes. The employee is required to obtain parent/guardian consent for visual/auditory recordings within the framework of the Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data and to act in accordance with child protection principles.

COMMUNIQUÉ14 June 2026

Official Standard from MYK for Youth Workers

Official titleCommuniqué on National Occupational Standards (No: 2026/6)

With the communiqué published by the Vocational Qualifications Authority (MYK), national standards for the occupations of Youth Worker (Level 5) and Expert Youth Worker (Level 6) have officially entered into force.

Before

Previously, there was no officially nationally defined and MYK (Vocational Qualifications Authority) approved occupational standard for 'Youth Worker (Level 5)' and 'Expert Youth Worker (Level 6)'.

After

The national standards for the occupations of Youth Worker (Level 5) and Expert Youth Worker (Level 6) have officially entered into force. Job descriptions, occupational health and safety rules, and required skills and competencies have been determined in detail.

Details of the Regulation

Published in the Official Gazette dated June 14, 2026, the Communiqué on National Occupational Standards (Communiqué No: 2026/6) places the job descriptions, competencies, and working conditions of professionals working in the field of youth into a legal framework. Prepared by the Ministry of Youth and Sports General Directorate of Youth Services, these standards were verified by the MYK Social and Personal Services Sector Committee and put into effect with the approval of the MYK Board of Directors.

Within the scope of the occupational standard, "Youth Worker (Level 5)" defines qualified individuals who plan activities that support the personal, social, and cultural development of young people, organize training programs, and help them unlock their individual potential. This occupational group is positioned under the 'Social work associate professionals (3412)' category in international standard classifications (ISCO 08). In the communiqué, the duties of the employee are designated as applying occupational health and safety measures, complying with environmental protection rules, fulfilling quality requirements, and organizing event and training processes.

The communiqué also makes full compliance with the Law on the Protection of Personal Data (KVKK) and child protection principles mandatory, due to youth workers directly interacting with children and disadvantaged youth. Employees are expected to adapt to flexible working hours, make quick decisions in moments of crisis, and possess contemporary digital competencies such as social media literacy.

REGAS Commentary

This regulation is a huge step toward the professionalization of personnel carrying out youth activities in non-governmental organizations, youth centers, municipalities, and private clubs. Holding the title of 'youth worker' or 'expert youth worker' and being employed in these positions will now depend on specific standards and professional qualification exams to be conducted in the future. This situation will directly increase the quality and safety of the services offered to young people.

Questions You Might Have

Do these standards directly bind everyone working with young people?: Legally, these standards bind the minimum competencies that professionals to be employed under the official title of 'Youth Worker' must possess, as well as the OHS/KVKK rules they must comply with.
Are digital skills required in a youth worker?: Yes. In the communiqué, 'Social Media Literacy' and 'Knowledge of Digital Youth Work' are explicitly defined among the minimum professional knowledge and skills.
Is there a special emphasis on the safety of children and youth in the standards?: Yes. The employee is required to obtain parent/guardian consent for visual/auditory recordings within the framework of the Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data and to act in accordance with child protection principles.

Key Terms

Ulusal Meslek Standardı: It is an official document that determines the minimum knowledge, skill, attitude, and behavior standards required to successfully perform a profession.
ISCO 08: It is the International Standard Classification of Occupations system used to collect and analyze internationally comparable data on occupations.
KKD (Kişisel Koruyucu Donanım): It is the general name for equipment such as hard hats, masks, and protective clothing that protect the employee against occupational accidents or occupational diseases.

Affected Sectors

Youth and sports services
Social services
Education
Civil society organizations

Follow Turkish legal developments

REGAS analyzed all 16 items in the Official Gazette of 14 June 2026; we published only 1 of them here.

REGAS summarizes every change in the Turkish Official Gazette in plain language and notifies you.

The REGAS app is currently Turkish-only. If you would like English in the app, the best way to make it happen is to support the developer: get the app and just say so.