29.10.2026 13:48
While millions of retirees await the salary increase to be made in January, a striking proposal came from Mustafa Destici, Chairman of the Great Unity Party (BBP). Stating that the gap between retirement pensions and public employees' salaries is gradually widening, Destici said that the lowest retirement pension should be above 40 thousand liras.
Following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's statement that a regulation will be made in the 2027 budget to improve the situation of retirees, it was stated by the AK Party Group that options such as a 'welfare share' or 'equal increase' are being considered in addition to the normal annual increase for retirement pensions. While this work continues, BBP Chairman Mustafa Destici made assessments regarding the lowest retirement pension.
After statements that the government is working on a new regulation to improve retirees' incomes, Destici argued that the gap between retirement pensions and public employees' wages should be reduced.
COMPARED 2023 AND 2026
Stating that retirement pensions have fallen behind public employees' salaries, Destici cited the wage rates in 2023 as an example.
Destici said, 'In January 2023, the lowest retirement pension was 7,500 liras, while the lowest public worker and public officer salary was 11,000 liras. The ratio was 3 to 2. Today it is 70,000 liras to 23,000 liras. The ratio is below even 1 in 3.'
'THE LOWEST RETIREMENT PENSION SHOULD BE ABOVE 40,000 TL'
Calling for the gap between retirement pensions and public employees' salaries to be eliminated, Destici said that the wage ratio from 2023 should be achieved again.
Advocating raising the lowest retirement pension to a higher level relative to public employees' salaries, Destici said, 'In our view, the lowest retirement pension should be above 40,000 TL.'
A 69.84 PERCENT INCREASE IS NEEDED FOR 40,000 TL
The current lowest retirement pension stands at 23,552 liras. To reach the 40,000-lira level proposed by Destici, an increase of 16,448 liras is needed in pensions.
This means an increase of approximately 69.84 percent compared with the current amount.
- Current lowest retirement pension: 23,552 TL
- Proposed salary level: 40,000 TL
- Required increase: 16,448 TL
- Required increase rate: 69.84%
WORK ON THE GOVERNMENT'S RETIREMENT REGULATION CONTINUES
Meanwhile, statements that the government is working on a new model to increase retirees' incomes remain on the agenda.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had stated that financial opportunities would be created in the 2027 budget to improve the situation of retirees.
Former AK Party MP Şamil Tayyar also reported, after his meeting with Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan, that the new model is aimed to be implemented starting January 1, 2027.
According to Tayyar's statement, Minister Işıkhan emphasized that no final decision had yet been made and said that an announcement would be made after the details of the regulation become clear.