Additional raise given to SSK and Bağkur retirees, minimum monthly salary increased

The first cabinet meeting of the year has ended. President Erdoğan stated that an additional 5 percent point increase was given to SSK and Bağkur retirees and said, "Since the difference between retirees' monthly salaries created a negative effect, a new step was taken and increased to 42.6 percent for SSK and Bağkur retirees." The lowest retirement salary was also increased to 10 thousand liras. Erdoğan said that the annual salary increase rates of all retirees, regardless of whether they are civil servants, SSK or Bağkur, will be equalized next July. The critical Cabinet meeting concerning millions of SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees has ended. President Erdoğan made statements after the meeting where the formulas for the 12-point increase difference against SSK and Bağkur retirees were evaluated. Expressing that they made payments of 5,000 liras each to all 16 million retirees in the last months of last year, Erdoğan reminded that there was a 49.25 percent increase in the salaries of civil servant retirees and a 37.57 percent increase for SSK and Bağkur retirees for the first 6 months of 2024, Erdoğan stated that since we saw the discomfort these increases caused to our retirees, we took steps to bring them closer to each other and said, "I would like to give the good news here that we will make an additional 5 percent increase in the salaries of SSK and Bağkur retirees. SSK and Bağkur retirees are increasing to 42.6 percent as of January 2024. With the increases in July, all of our retirees will receive a salary increase at approximately the same rates." To be equalized in July Erdoğan stated that the annual increase rates of all retirees, without distinction between civil servants, SSK and Bağkur, will be equalized next July and said, "Since civil servant retirees will receive the inflation difference in the salary increases in the second half of the year, while SSK and Bağkur retirees will receive a raise equal to inflation, the imbalance will be eliminated." The lowest monthly salary is 10 thousand liras Stating that the lower limit of the pension that has been put into practice has been increased from 7 thousand 500 liras to 10 thousand liras, Erdoğan said, "After receiving the approval of our Parliament, we want to reflect the increases on the salaries of our retirees as soon as possible. We want to offer an additional resource of 200 billion liras to the use of our retirees. I hope that all of these increases will be beneficial to our country and our nation." 2024 declared the year of retirees Stating that they declared 2024 as the year of retirees, Erdoğan underlined that on this occasion, they aim to launch new services that will increase the quality of life of retirees and expand their social rights. Significant success achieved in employment Stating that the 26 separate roads, rail systems, airports and satellite projects currently under construction in transportation alone will bring benefits to the country, Erdoğan said, "The issue we care about the most is that we have achieved the highest level in our history in employment with 32 million people. We need to reduce unemployment, which we have reduced to 9 percent, even further. Our employers will be able to use the opportunity to train the qualified workforce they need in their own workplaces under more flexible conditions. After February 6, we had already lifted the obligations of workplaces in the earthquake zone regarding these courses and programs. The employer obligation period for the courses and programs in the same cities will be applied as 1 fold and the employment commitment as 30 percent for 2024. Our aim is to ensure that the labor market in our cities affected by the earthquake recovers as soon as possible. We are covering the losses of our citizens whose animals died in the earthquake." The nation’s help is expected Stating that one of the areas of greatest focus is the fight against the high cost of living and inflation, Erdoğan said, “We expect our nation’s help in our fight against the high cost of living and inflation. The psychological aspect of this issue is as important as its technical aspect. We must eliminate the greedy mentality that does not directly proportion the goods it produces and sells and the services it provides to inflation.”