Our Working Conditions

Our Working Conditions

Our working conditions are defined within the framework of international standards. All of our founding partners are members of the Conference Interpreters Association of Turkey, and all conditions are as set by the Association.

CONFERENCE INTERPRETERS ASSOCIATION OF TURKEY

GENERAL WORKING CONDITIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Conference interpreters only accept assignments for which they have the necessary knowledge and experience.
  • Conference 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.
  • 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.
  • Conference 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.
  • Conference 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.
  • Conference interpreters do not and cannot be forced to work alone except under exceptional circumstances (e.g. short press conferences) (this may never exceed one hour even in exceptional circumstances). Maximum duration of work for a team of at least two interpreters must not exceed 2 x 3 hours per day (including whisper interpretation). 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. Separate booths are opened for each interpreting language including Turkish. 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; accompanying assignments and protocol requirements are excluded from this rule.
  • Conference 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.
  • All interpreters employed for the same meeting by the same employer receive equal payment for their work.
  • As foreseen in relevant international conventions and Law 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.
  • 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.
  • Conference 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 booth.
  • Technical equipment and booths used in simultaneous interpretation must comply with the Turkish (TSE) and ISO Standards TS ISO 2603 and 4043 (*). 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. If the location or conditions of the booth and technical equipment are unsuitable, interpreters cannot be forced to work until necessary adjustments are made to provide technically and visually acceptable conditions.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

(*) TS EN ISO 2603: 2016 Simultaneous interpreting – Permanent booths – Requirements.

TS EN ISO 4043:2016 Simultaneous Interpreting – Mobile booths – Requirements.

TS EN ISO 20109:2016 Simultaneous Interpreting – Equipment – Requirements.