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HAK-İŞ Confederation organized an 'Expanded Presidents' Council Meeting' as part of its 49th anniversary. The meeting, which started with a short film screening about HAK-İŞ's 49th year, addressed topics such as HAK-İŞ's 49th year, the Turkish Agenda, Union Agenda, and Labor Life.
A MESSAGE FROM ERDOĞAN TO HAK-İŞPresident Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also sent a written message on the occasion of HAK-İŞ's 49th anniversary. In President Erdoğan's message, the following statements were included: "HAK-İŞ Confederation, which is a representative of solution-oriented unionism with its positive contributions to our country's union movement and working life, and its proposals and offers to solve workers' problems, is one of our country's rooted and respected unions. HAK-İŞ Confederation, with its understanding of solidarity and conciliatory unionism, makes significant contributions to our democracy and working life. I sincerely congratulate the 49th anniversary of HAK-İŞ Confederation, which continues its efforts to protect the rights of labor owners in a principled manner, and I wish you continued success. I greet all your members who add value to our country with their labor, sweat, and production with my heartfelt feelings."
"REPRESENTATION POWER IN TURKISH WORKING LIFE IS 15%"HAK-İŞ General President Mahmut Arslan, who made an opening speech here, stated that HAK-İŞ has fought many difficult struggles, especially during the periods of September 12 and February 28, and expressed that they have always faced pressures on HAK-İŞ, intimidation movements towards unions, and similar problems in every period.
Arslan noted that HAK-İŞ, at the age of 49, operates in every province of Turkey, stating, "With provincial presidencies in 81 provinces, one of which is in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), it is one of the strongest and most effective confederations in Turkey with over 850,000 members and more than 200 branches. We are at a point where we represent workers and laborers in many platforms such as the Economic and Social Council, Joint Consultation Committee, Tripartite Advisory Board, MYK, Labor Assembly, SGK, İŞKUR, KÇP, and many other institutions in our country."
Arslan conveyed that for the growth of HAK-İŞ Confederation, the affiliated unions need to grow, noting that although the unions affiliated with HAK-İŞ are number one in their sectors, they do not represent more than 50% of the workers in terms of representation. Arslan stated that the representation power of three confederations, including independent unions, in Turkish working life is 15%.
"WORKERS LOST BUT EMPLOYERS WON"Arslan pointed out that there are existing problems in working life, one of which is high inflation. He stated that the recent high inflation is a painful phenomenon, saying the following: "In periods when inflation rises all over the world, it appears as a phenomenon where workers lose but employers and some circles gain. Therefore, HAK-İŞ has a responsibility to fulfill regarding the compensation of inflation losses. For this reason, we have continuously but insistently kept these issues on the agenda with our government, especially with our President, Vice President, Minister of Labor and Social Security, Minister of Treasury and Finance, Deputy Chairpersons of the Justice and Development Party, and many other stakeholders. To ensure that our efforts yield results, we did not just object. We also proposed solutions. In 2023, after our General Assembly, we took an important step with the HAK-İŞ Academy we established to find scientific solutions to these problems."
"3 CONFEDERATIONS PREPARED A JOINT STATEMENT"Arslan reminded that three labor confederations came together to solve the common problems of working life, stating, "We prepared a joint statement and shared it with the public. Later, we made these efforts concrete. Each confederation decided to share these issues with their members and the public in at least three provinces. Accordingly, as HAK-İŞ, we successfully held our rallies in Kocaeli, Gaziantep, and Kayseri with the great support and enthusiasm of our employees, which is a great source of pride for us. Last weekend, the last rallies were held by other confederations. We will continue to discuss what will be done in the future."
DEMAND FOR TAX BASED ON INCOMEArslan stated that a new tax reform is needed to ensure justice in taxation, noting that the recent steps taken are significant for collecting new taxes from those who do not pay taxes, saying, "We support this and want to take it further. New steps have been taken regarding those who do not pay taxes or pay symbolic taxes or regulations that eliminate taxes that have been accrued. Taxes have started to be collected from the private sector, public-private partnerships, and some capital institutions, such as the stock market and similar places. Of course, this is important but not sufficient. Let me give you a figure. The table of Turkey's tax system is as follows; we all pay 66% indirect tax. This is a typical indicator of how taxes are collected. 32% direct tax, and unfortunately, 66% is indirect tax. So how much is the tax on wealth? 2%. This shows Turkey's shame. Therefore, we want indirect taxes to be reduced and direct taxes to be arranged so that those who earn a lot pay more and those who earn less pay less."
"A SERIOUS CONTRADICTION IS EMERGING"Arslan pointed out that the monthly pension calculation system in the retirement system is a system that is arranged without considering the effect of inflation, stating, "Especially a salary calculation system that does not consider high inflation presents a serious contradiction between 2024 and 2025. If our brothers who will retire this year postpone their retirement to next year, they will have to accept a nearly 30% decrease in their pensions. This is a great loss and injustice for workers in this country. You work more. You pay more premiums. But your pension is lower. Why? The multiplication factor affected by inflation is 86% for 2023 inflation and the payments for that year, while this year's targets are 42% and the added figures result in a 30-point difference, leading to lower pensions for those retiring next year," he said.
WILL THE VICTIMIZATION IN RETIREMENT CONTINUE?Arslan emphasized that they shared their concerns with the relevant ministries regarding those who will retire in 2025 receiving lower pensions than those who retire in 2024, stating, "We explained how this would lead to a disaster. Our Ministry of Labor and Social Security has initiated a study on this issue. Unfortunately, we learned from the Minister's statements yesterday that this issue has been abandoned.
```He did not explicitly withdraw, but the statements made regarding the questions unfortunately indicate that the issues related to retirees will not change, leading to lower salaries for those who will retire next year. "THE REINSTATEMENT MECHANISM IN TURKEY IS EXTREMELY WEAK"Arslan stated that there are obstacles to job security and union organization, saying, "The reinstatement mechanism in Turkey is extremely weak, and employees are further victimized by this mechanism. The lack of real job security makes the existing job security merely symbolic, and in its implementation, employees suffer even greater losses. Therefore, if we really want to maintain strong union organization, the most important prerequisite is job security. Because workers never want to stay away from unionism. Even in the worst cases, they want to be union members. And they are often heroes who are willing to participate in union struggles and risk being unemployed," he said. "MEDIATION IN SEVERANCE PAY SHOULD BE REMOVED"Speaking about the right to severance pay, Arslan claimed that this would lead to the victimization of workers if removed through a mediation system, stating, "We demand the immediate halt of a regulation that has unfortunately been effectively eliminated through the mediation system. The mediation system has turned into a means that deprives workers of their established rights. The minimum severance pay is clear. It is equivalent to 30 days' wages. The overtime leave rate is also clear. Annual paid leave is again limited by law. It is absolutely unacceptable to accept and approve a mediation system that makes these limits a subject of negotiation. These are rights that should not be negotiated at all, with minimum levels specified that do not exist in any democracy in the world," he evaluated. "WE OBJECT TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE MINIMUM WAGE DETERMINATION COMMISSION"Touching on the issue of minimum wage, Arslan stated that the minimum wage is the lowest wage but is considered a general wage in Turkey, saying, "We object to the structure of the minimum wage determination commission. The structure of the commission is not fair, just, inclusive, or participatory. Secondly, we also object to the minimum wage practices. As the name minimum wage suggests, it is the lowest wage, the minimum wage. You cannot employ anyone below this wage. Today, the proportion of those working for the minimum wage has approached 50% of all employees," he explained. "THE 20% TAX BRACKET IS REACHED AT 5 MINIMUM WAGES"Speaking about the tax bracket on wages, Arslan said, "In 2002, the minimum wage would move to the next bracket after being paid for 17 months. It would reach the 20% bracket after 17 minimum wages. Today, although no tax is taken from the minimum wage, we see that by the fifth month, the minimum wage reaches the 20% bracket," he said. - ANKARA
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