11.05.2026 15:40
Before the salary increases for civil servants and retirees to be announced in July, a striking proposal came from HÜR-SEN President Levent Kuruoğlu. Stating that salaries are rapidly eroding due to high inflation, Kuruoğlu said that the inflation difference should be reflected in salaries every month, not every six months. Kuruoğlu also argued that public employees and retirees have become "creditors" in the current situation.
During the period when millions of civil servants and retirees are focused on the salary increase to be made in July, a notable statement came from Levent Kuruoğlu, the President of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions (HÜR-SEN). Kuruoğlu stated that due to high inflation, salaries cannot maintain their purchasing power, and suggested that the inflation difference should be reflected in salaries on a monthly basis.
4 OUT OF 6 DATA RELEASED
The fourth of the critical inflation data for determining civil servant and retiree salary increases was announced on Monday, May 4. Thus, only the inflation figures for May and June remain. While expectations continue for the increase rates that will be finalized in July, a new proposal came from the HÜR-SEN front.
“PURCHASING POWER CANNOT BE MAINTAINED”
Stating that the current system is insufficient to protect employees in a high inflation environment, HÜR-SEN President Levent Kuruoğlu said that reflecting the inflation difference to salaries at certain periods is not enough to prevent income loss. In his statement, Kuruoğlu said, “We demand that the inflation difference be reflected in salaries on a monthly basis to protect the purchasing power of employees.”
“PUBLIC EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES HAVE BECOME CREDITORS”
Speaking according to a report by Türkiye Newspaper, Kuruoğlu drew attention to the income loss experienced by civil servants and retired civil servants. Noting that according to Turkish Statistical Institute data, monthly inflation in April was 4.18 percent, Kuruoğlu said cumulative inflation in the first four months of the year reached 14.64 percent. Stating that the 11 percent salary increase given to civil servants and retirees at the beginning of the year remained below inflation in the first four months, Kuruoğlu said, “Public employees and retirees have become creditors.”
“POVERTY LINE EXCEEDED 112,000 TL”
Expressing that the welfare share regulation has become mandatory, Kuruoğlu said that especially citizens with fixed incomes are experiencing serious livelihood difficulties. Kuruoğlu stated, “The poverty line exceeded 112,000 TL. Public employees and retirees earning income below this level struggle to meet their needs.”
Saying that the gap between economic data and citizens' daily lives is widening, Kuruoğlu noted that permanent steps should be taken to compensate for the economic losses of public employees and retirees.
HOW IS THE CIVIL SERVANT AND RETIREE INCREASE CALCULATED?
Salary increases for civil servants and retired civil servants consist of the collective bargaining increase and the inflation difference. The increase rate is predetermined in collective bargaining agreements between the government and authorized unions. However, if six-month inflation exceeds this rate, the resulting difference is added to salaries. Thus, civil servants and retired civil servants receive both the collective bargaining increase and the inflation difference. For SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees, increases are made directly based on the six-month CPI rate. While salary increases are finalized in January and July, the CPI data announced by the Turkish Statistical Institute are taken as the basis in the calculations.