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Conference Interpreters Association of Turkey (TKTD)

Working Conditions and Responsibilities of the Parties

1. Interpreters accept only those assignments for which they have the necessary knowledge and experience.

2. Interpreters are subject to the confidentiality principles of their profession. Information, documents etc. they have access to as an interpreter shall not be given to or shared with third parties without the consent of the conference organizer. Such confidentiality is not limited to the duration of their contract and will remain in effect even after the termination of the contract.

3. TKTD members do not work with individuals who do not abide by the working conditions as set forth by TKTD/AIIC and who lack the necessary references certifying their professional qualifications.

4. Interpreters sign a contract with the conference organizer(s) or his intermediary specifying their remuneration as well as the terms and conditions of their work in accordance with the basic texts of TKTD.

5. Interpreters do not accept more than one assignment for the same period of time.

6. Interpreters, under all conditions, interpret only what they hear. If they are intentionally forced to provide interpretation that is biased, incomplete and/or redundant, they shall refuse to work without being subject to sanctions of any kind for this reason.

7. Interpreters do not and cannot be forced to work alone except under exceptional circumstances, which do not exceed 45 minutes. Maximum duration of work for a team of at least two interpreters must not exceed 2 x 3 hours per day. Interpreters must have a lunch break of at least one hour. When total duration of work exceeds 6 hours per day, a third interpreter or a fresh team of two interpreters is required. In consecutive interpretation, uninterrupted period of work for one interpreter must not exceed 1 hour and a total of 2 hours with breaks per day; in cases of accompanying (bilateral) assignments and protocol requirements, this duration must be defined according to the workload. If interpretation service is provided in more than two languages, the number of booths and interpreters must be arranged so as to prevent systematic use of relay. The number of interpreters to be assigned in all remote interpreting settings apart from on-site assignments, where all the speakers, audience, technicians and interpreters are at the same place, must be determined compensating the possible lower quality of audiovisual input and higher cognitive load. (*) 

8. Interpreters are responsible for interpretation only and cannot in any way be forced to translate texts or do any work not specified in their contract.

9. All interpreters employed for the same meeting by the same employer receive equal payment for their work.

10. As foreseen in relevant international conventions and Law no. 5846 on Intellectual and Artistic Works, any audio/visual recording of interpretation and its broadcast through any communication channel shall be subject to the consent of the interpreters and additional copyright fees. Sole exceptions to this rule are conferences organized specifically to inform the press and when interpreters are employed by broadcast institutions. Even so, entering booths for recording purposes or placing microphones, recording devices etc. are strictly forbidden. This article also applies to interpretation in online or hybrid settings.

11. Conference organizers shall provide, within a reasonable period of time prior to the meeting, all documents such as speeches, agenda, etc., which will help interpreters with necessary technical and linguistic preparation. In addition, in cases of technical or sensitive subjects, the parties can request to have a briefing before the meeting.

12. Interpreters shall not be required to interpret audio/visual recordings which are not provided in script or video format before the meeting. By all means, for interpretation purposes, the sound of the audio/visual material must be transmitted directly to the headphones of the interpreter.

13. Technical equipment and booths used in simultaneous interpretation and the platform and infrastructure to be used in remote interpreting settings must comply with the Turkish (TSE) and/or ISO Standards in force. There must be one outgoing channel for each language. In case of on-site assignments, booth(s) must be located to provide a full view of the speaker, rostrum and/or visual materials from a reasonable distance. In remote interpreting settings, as well, interpreters should have access to all visual input of the meeting. If the location or conditions of the booth and/or technical equipment are unsuitable, interpreters cannot be forced to work until necessary adjustments are made to provide technically and visually acceptable conditions.

14. Remote interpreting from a location provided by the employer:

In case of remote interpreting from a location provided by the employer, it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure connection and audio and/or video systems, which are appropriate for quality interpretation, and to make sure that interpreters have a clear view of the speakers as well as the visual material, and also to create a private, soundproofed setting for interpreters (preferably working together); as well as to ensure the quality and continuity of data connection and to safeguard the confidentiality of all communication. Interpreters reserve the right to stop interpreting in case of technical problems that potentially jeopardize the quality of their interpretation.

Remote interpreting from home:

In case of remote interpreting from home in extremis, interpreters commit to providing a wired internet connection of at least 10 Mbps download and 2 Mpbs upload speed, using a USB headset and working in a quiet space as much as possible. The set-up provided by the interpreters can be tested and checked by the employer before the meeting, and such rehearsals can be subject to a charge depending on their character and duration. On the other hand, the employer is liable for ensuring that the quality and continuity of the connection and video and/or audio systems of the speakers in distant location(s) are acceptable for interpreting. Interpreters cannot be held responsible for any technical issues that may happen during the streaming, which are beyond their control, such as a slowing down or loss of internet connection, power cut or sound drops, as long as they have previously ensured the necessary set-up and completed the rehearsal without any problems.

15. When working outside their domicile, interpreters are compensated for their travel (including airport transfers) and subsistence expenses by the conference organizer or receive per diems to cover these expenses. Interpreters travel by air or, where this is not possible, by the most direct route to the conference venue. Interpreters stay at the conference hotel. If the conference venue is not a hotel, then the interpreters must stay in single rooms at the same hotel with the participants or at a hotel that is of equivalent quality.

16. Travel day compensation is applicable if interpreters are required to travel from their domicile within working hours (09:00-18:00) the day before the conference or arrive at their domicile after midnight on the last day of the conference. They are entitled to paid rest-days other than their travel day if work requires them to travel overseas, straining them physically or otherwise due to travel across time zones. Interpreters are also entitled to per diem and remuneration for each non-working day in between assignments when working away from their domicile

17. All intermediary parties signing contracts with interpreters are responsible for putting the interpreters in direct contact with the organizers of the meeting in order to ensure that interpretation is of highest quality

18. With the exception of force majeure, interpreters shall be entitled to receive cancellation compensation if the conference organizer terminates the contract unilaterally. If an interpreter is unable to work in a conference due to force majeure, s/he shall recommend, within a reasonable period of time prior to the conference so as not to cause any inconvenience on the part of the conference organizer, another conference interpreter with the same qualifications who accepts to work under the agreed-upon working conditions.

(Latest Revision: January 2024)

(*) In remote interpreting settings, the principles covered in the Remote Interpreting Guidelines for TKTD Interpreters shall apply.