President Erdoğan announced that nearly 1 million small tradespeople waiting for Bağ-Kur premium equalization will be entitled to retire with 7,200 premium days, just like other insured workers under SGK. The regulation, which will move the retirement date 1,800 days (that is, 5 years) earlier, is expected to be implemented shortly. The change not only brings earlier retirement but also increases pension amounts by approximately 20 percent. This boost will be welcome news for soon-to-be retirees. However, attention must be paid to the worker’s employment start date for eligibility under this regulation.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered the anticipated update on the measure that advances small tradespeople’s retirement by 1,800 days. He began his announcement saying, “I want to share good news with our small tradespeople such as hairdressers, greengrocers, grocers, plumbers and market vendors,” and continued: “We are equalizing the premium payment days of our small tradespeople with those of SGK-insured workers and reducing it to 7,200 days. This will be one of the first actions of the new term, and hopefully 1 million of our small tradespeople will benefit from this measure. I wish all our tradespeople well. We are not only engaged in building projects and services; we have many more projects to deliver to our country and many more good news to share with our nation.” Details of the regulation follow below.
1800 Days (5 Years) Earlier Retirement
Under the planned regulation, small tradespeople who currently need 9,000 premium days will be allowed to retire with 7,200 days—matching SGK-insured workers—thereby enabling retirement 5 years earlier. In addition, eligible tradespeople will be able to receive a pension roughly 20 percent higher. While the scope may be broadened over time, the change is expected to ultimately include all Bağ-Kur contributors.
1800-day retirement pension information: https://www.ssk.biz.tr/1800-gunle-malulen-emekli-maasi/
Will Depend on Employment Start Date
The 2008 social security reform set the required premium days for workers and civil servants at 7,200 (20 years). However, for Bağ-Kur contributors this requirement was effectively 9,000 days (25 years), resulting in longer premium payment periods and later retirement for self-employed tradespeople. Under current rules, SGK-insured workers can retire at 7,200 premium days when women reach age 58 and men 60, while Bağ-Kur contributors must satisfy both age (58 for women, 60 for men) and 9,000 premium day requirements to retire.
Bağ-Kur pension table: https://www.ssk.biz.tr/bagkur-emekli-maasi-nekadar/
Normally, for SGK-insured workers the retirement date is calculated based on the first recorded employment or insurance registration date, whereas Bağ-Kur contributors’ retirement is determined by the actual days for which premiums were paid. The reform will standardize retirement conditions and entitlement criteria across all pensioners. With this change, discrepancies between different professions will be reduced and the premium day difference between SGK and Bağ-Kur will end. The specifics of premium equalization will vary depending on the employment start date.
About 20% Higher Pensions
In addition to enabling earlier retirement, the regulation will allow eligible Bağ-Kur contributors to receive higher pension payments. A Bağ-Kur member who is 3.5 years short of the 25-year, 9,000-day requirement could convert their status to SGK if they complete the remaining 3.5 years of contributions, thereby benefiting from fewer required premium days and a higher pension. For Bağ-Kur contributors who joined before 2000 and transition to SGK, pension amounts are expected to rise by about 15–20 percent. The new regulation is expected to be enacted before Parliament’s summer recess.
1 milyon küçük esnafımızın prim ödeme gün sayısını SSK’lılarla eşitleyerek 7 bin 200 güne indiriyoruz. Esnaf kardeşlerime hayırlı olsun. pic.twitter.com/nwqiIF6n9Z
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) May 6, 2023