We previously summarized the bills submitted to parliament regarding those who are blocked from retirement by age requirements. A bill that gave hope to these affected individuals was submitted to parliament yesterday. We noted that the government has kept a distance from this issue. Today, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a speech, “Our principles do not accept idleness as an excuse for fatigue. We do not approve early retirement within our social security system; our country cannot bear that burden, but the political path is always open for those who wish to pursue it,” a statement that will likely dampen hopes among people affected by retirement age rules. Attention now turns to how other parties in parliament will decide.
President Erdoğan’s Statement on the Retirement-Age Issue
There are several bills on the agenda related to those prevented from retiring due to age. The president reiterated, “We do not approve early retirement within our social security system,” while noting that political channels remain available. Under current social security legislation in our country, eligibility for retirement depends on three main conditions, one of which is the age requirement. Recently the topic of those affected by the retirement age requirement has become a major issue. There is an association organized around this issue, and the situation of its leader illustrates how the social security system could be driven into a severe strain. She registered in the system in 1992 and, under the old rules, would have qualified for retirement at 38. Under current rules, she will begin receiving a retirement pension at age 48 in 2022.
She must wait until that age to receive a pension alone. Nowhere in the world is retirement at 38 a common practice. If someone works 20 years and then retires at 38, they would receive pension and health insurance benefits for roughly 40 years without contributing during that entire period. No country could sustain that burden. When average life expectancy was far lower, retiring at 40 might have been explainable. Today, however, average life expectancy in our country is around 78, and the current average retirement age is roughly 52; in the EU it is closer to 65. Turkey is only gradually approaching a 65-year threshold. On average, a retiree recovers the premiums paid over a working life in about six years of pension payments. According to the Social Security Institution’s calculations, approximately 6.2 million people fall into the category described as blocked by the retirement-age rule. The annual cost for this group is estimated at 26 billion lira, and the total liability could reach 750 billion lira. Do we have the right to place such a burden on our citizens? I ask the nation. In a time of economic struggle, while some take advantage of the situation, introducing such a costly change would be neither fair nor responsible. Why drag our social security system into a new pit? Turkey has suffered from populist policies in the past—let us not revive that dangerous habit. This law would be a step backward, not forward.
Can an EYT (Retirement-Age) Law Pass Parliament?
Out of the current 596 deputies serving in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, 290 are from the AK Party. Based on that distribution, the combined seats of other parties are sufficient to pass a bill if they unite. A proposal submitted by MHP Istanbul deputy Arzu Erdem, reportedly following instructions from MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, as well as proposals from İYİ Party Muğla deputy Metin Ergun, CHP’s Gürsel Tekin, and HDP deputies, were sent to the Plan and Budget Commission. After commission work, the bill is expected to be voted on in the General Assembly in the coming days.
Our view: Given current working conditions and cost-of-living pressures, a revised retirement law could be structured to address these realities. An age requirement may be applied, but it should be set at a realistic level—around 50 for women and 55 for men. Workers who lose their jobs at these ages face significant difficulty finding new employment, especially while unemployment remains high. We hope the necessary legislative work begins as soon as possible.