Pensioners want changes in the monthly calculation system

Kazım Ergün, President of the Turkish Pensioners Association (TÜED), called for the pension calculation system to be changed, saying: “The indicator and the step system must be returned. “The lower limit of the monthly settlement rate should be 70 percent, and the monthly settlement rates should be redetermined according to the indicators and step values.” saying.

Ergün stated that the total number of retirees in Turkey is 15.6 million and that approximately 6 million retirees receive a monthly salary of 7,500 lira.

SYSTEM CHANGE THAT REDUCES RETIREMENT PENSIONS

Ergün pointed out that while in 2002 the minimum wage corresponded to 71.5 percent of the lowest workers’ pension, today the lowest workers’ pension is below the minimum wage and said:

“Today, the lowest pension is 3,902 lira below the current minimum wage. We face a situation in which pensions are even below the minimum wage. Some changes to social security legislation in the past have led to pension inequality. “The mixed calculation of pensions applied to those who worked before the year 2000, between January 2000 and September 2008 and after October 2008, has become a system that reduces pensions.”

‘2024 MUST BE A NEW YEAR BEGINNING’

Ergün stated that instead of a mixed pension system, there should be a single pension calculation system that covers all periods and guarantees equality within itself, and made the following assessment:

“Our insurance legislation should be reconsidered and we should return to the system of indicators and tiers. The lower limit monthly settlement rate should be 70 percent, and the monthly settlement rates should be redetermined according to the indicators and step values. Unless this suggestion is made, there can be no talk of pension equality. Precisely today we are suffering from this problem and a significant part of retirees receive 7,500 liras, regardless of the number of days of premium and their income. This cannot be a sustainable system. For this reason, 2024 should be a new beginning and future-ready retirement should take its rightful place in the 100th year of the Republic.”

‘5 THOUSAND LIRA MUST BE PAID AT THE REQUEST OF ALL PENSIONERS

Stating that the 5,000 lira given once to unemployed retirees creates discrimination among retirees, Ergün argued that this practice goes against the principle of equality of the Constitution.

Ergün highlighted that 5 thousand lira were not paid to working retirees, 1 million 629 thousand retirees are registered in the Farmer Registration System and 150 thousand retirees from the funds of 17 private banks, Ergün said:

“We want 5,000 lira to be paid to all retirees without conditions. The fact that agricultural insurance retirees must register with the Chamber of Agriculture and be considered insured within the scope of 4/b is a rule that has no equivalent in Law No. 5510. “The current practice, which creates inequality, “has victimized and upset our farm insurance retirees, who are among the most worn-out segments of society.” (AA)