Ombudsman Finds No Unjust Payment in Extra Work Allowance Report

The Ombudsman, İlkan Varol, addressed the issue raised by Mehmet Öztürk Kumser, who alleged that a nurse at the Güzelyurt Health Center received an unjustified extra work allowance for days she did not work. Varol stated that there was no evidence found indicating an unjustified payment of extra work allowances.

Varol mentioned that Mehmet Öztürk Kumser applied to the office claiming that a nurse named Gülşen Sarmış Kuşçu at the Güzelyurt Health Center had received an unjustified extra work allowance for days she did not work. Upon receiving the application, an investigation was conducted within the framework of the legal regulations, and a report was prepared. Varol pointed out that according to the authorization for additional work received from the Budget Department, extra work forms were prepared for the said nurse, and according to the documents sent by the Ministry of Health, these forms were accounted for.

The report contained the following statements:

"In relation to the matter, written information was requested from Dr. Düriye Deren Oygar, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health. Oygar responded to our questions and sent us the documents regarding the issue.

Mehmet Öztürk Kumser, in his application to the office, alleged that Gülşen Sarmış Kuşçu, who works as a responsible nurse at the Güzelyurt Health Center, unjustly earned income from the state by filling out overtime schedules for days she was not present at the health center. Kumser submitted the December 2021 work schedule of the personnel to the office as an attachment to the application, considering his allegations as evidence.

According to the information provided by Undersecretary Dr. Düriye Deren Oygar and the transfer letter from the Public Service Commission Chairman, Gülşen Sarmış (Kuşçu) was transferred to Güzelyurt district as of February 2020 and has been working at the Güzelyurt Health Center as a III. Degree Health Nurse in the Basic Health Services Department, Paramedical Services Class.

According to the information provided by the Undersecretary, the health workers in Güzelyurt Health Center work in a shift system of 24-48 hours, meaning they work for 24 hours and rest for 48 hours. According to Oygar, the health workers are called for overtime during their rest hours if necessary, and at the end of the month, the hours worked by the person are calculated, and the hours exceeding the monthly working hours are recorded as overtime.

According to the information provided by the Undersecretary, Gülşen Sarmış worked on shifts outside of normal working hours in December 2021 and worked 95 hours overtime.

Based on the current conditions and official documents, it can be said that an extra work form was prepared for Gülşen Sarmış for December 2021, together with other employees at the Güzelyurt Health Center, in accordance with the extra work authorization received from the Budget Department, and according to the documents sent by the Ministry of Health, these forms were accounted for.

As a result of the investigation, no evidence was found indicating that the Ministry of Health acted erroneously during this process and/or that Gülşen Sarmış Kuşçu was unjustly paid extra work allowance."