Minister Vedat Işıkhan: 'CHP-run municipalities' SGK debt has reached 120 billion liras'

As the debate between the government and the Republican People's Party (CHP) regarding the "municipalities' debt to the SGK" continues, Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan made statements concerning the debts municipalities owe to the Social Security Institution (SGK). 

Speaking at the AKP's İzmir Provincial Advisory Council meeting, Minister Işıkhan claimed that the total SGK debt of municipalities, which stood at 96 billion liras, rose to 120 billion liras in the two months after the election, and that almost all of these municipalities are run by the CHP. 

ISSUED A WARNING OF SGK FORECLOSURE

Minister Işıkhan issued a warning of "SGK foreclosure," particularly targeting CHP-run municipalities, stating, "Most of the CHP-run municipalities are in this situation. And the debt, which rose from 96 billion to 120 billion liras in two months, will reach 200 billion or even 300 billion liras if not intervened. As the SGK, we will proceed to collect our debts through legal means as soon as possible. We cannot risk the future of our children and our retirees. As the SGK, we must ensure the actuarial balance and the sustainability of the system."

İZMİR'S DEBT INCREASED 885-FOLD IN 5 YEARS

Criticizing the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality specifically over the "pollution in the gulf," Minister Işıkhan stated that İzmir's SGK debt has increased 885-fold in 5 years. The Minister said, "The 96 billion lira SGK debt of municipalities rose to 120 billion in the 2 months after the election. Almost all of these municipalities are CHP-run municipalities. The İzmir Metropolitan Municipality's SGK debt has reached 7.8 billion TL."

Minister Işıkhan also touched upon the debts of other metropolitan municipalities, reporting that Ankara has an SGK debt of 6.9 billion TL, Adana 3.6 billion TL, İstanbul 3.5 billion TL, and Şişli 2.2 billion TL.

LEGAL PROCESS TO BE INITIATED FOR SGK DEBTS

Pointing out that municipalities are institutions that provide public services, Minister Işıkhan explained the process to be followed if the debts are not paid with the following words:

“Municipalities are institutions that provide public services, so before applying the sanctions in the legislation, we call the relevant municipality and warn them that their debts are accumulating and their sustainability is being lost. We verbally ask them to pay or defer (legal installment) their debts. What happens if they still don't pay? Then we send an official notification. If they still do not make a payment or a deferral request, we initiate enforcement proceedings. If they still do not pay, as a last resort, we press the button for the foreclosure process."