12.05.2025 09:21
A proposal regarding the tripling of salaries and bonuses for millions of retirees in Turkey has been submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). If this proposal is accepted, a minimum wage limit will be imposed on retirees' salaries, and bonuses will also reach the level of the minimum wage.
A new proposal regarding the increase of retirement salaries and bonuses has been submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). This proposal aims to improve the economic conditions of retirees by increasing their salaries.
The proposal to raise the lowest retirement pension and the holiday bonuses given to retirees to the amount of the monthly net minimum wage has been submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The proposal, titled "Draft Law on Amendments to the Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510," prepared by Necmettin Çalışkan, a member of the New Path Party from Hatay, aims to overcome the purchasing power problem faced by retirees in the face of inflation.
PREPARATION FOR MINIMUM WAGE IN SALARIES AND BONUSES
The justification for the proposal submitted to the TBMM includes the following statements: This Draft Law aims to prevent our retired citizens from being affected by economic fluctuations by keeping their monthly salaries and holiday bonuses at least at the level of the minimum wage.
According to data from the Presidency of Strategy and Budget, in 2002, the average pension for workers was 50% above the minimum wage, while in 2024, it has fallen to 58.8% below the minimum wage. The Social Security Institution states that the purpose of the old-age pension is to provide a livelihood for insured individuals due to income loss resulting from a decrease in working capacity. However, due to the inflationary environment, the purchasing power of pensions and holiday bonuses decreases relative to the average wage each year. This situation leads to some retirees being condemned to an income below the hunger threshold.
INCREASES WILL BE AT THE SAME RATE
“In accordance with the principle of the social state defined in the Constitution, the state must provide individuals with a minimum income guarantee. With this Draft Law, it is aimed to raise the lowest retirement pension to the level of the minimum wage, to regulate the holiday bonuses given twice a year to be no less than the minimum wage, and to update this amount each year according to the minimum wage amount that will come into effect.”