Demand for changes to retirement conditions after EYT: Gradual retirement efforts have begun
Efforts for a gradual retirement regulation are ongoing. With inequalities in retirement conditions becoming more pronounced following the EYT law, new regulations are expected to establish a gradual retirement age. Employees, citing grievances particularly due to age differences, are demanding a gradual retirement arrangement.
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With the EYT law that came into effect in 2023, inequalities in retirement conditions became even more pronounced. Those insured under the SSK system before September 8, 1999, can qualify for retirement without an age requirement by completing between 5000 and 5975 premium days and 20 years of insurance for women and 25 years for men.
However, conditions differ for those insured between September 8, 1999, and April 30, 2008; this group can be considered eligible for retirement at age 58 for women and 60 for men after completing 7000 premium days. Those insured after April 30, 2008, will be considered eligible for retirement depending on the date they complete 7200 premium days for workers, and 9000 premium days for tradespeople and civil servants.
DEMAND FOR GRADUAL RETIREMENT IS INCREASING
According to the report in Habertürk, insured individuals whose retirement period was extended by 18 years due to a difference of just one day are likely to demand gradual retirement. The fact that the waiting period, which was only 2 years before the EYT regulation, suddenly increased by 18 years has caused a major backlash among employees.
Those waiting for gradual retirement, united under the Retirement Justice Association (EMAD-DER), are requesting an age limit of 43 for women and 45 for men for those who started work by December 31, 2000, and for this age limit to increase by one year each year, reaching 51 for women and 53 for men for those who started work in 2008. Furthermore, it is requested that the number of premium days be started from 6400 instead of 7000 and increased by 75 days each year.
RETIREMENT AGE INCREASES EVERY TWO YEARS
The gradual retirement system continues to be applied for those insured after April 30, 2008. In this context, women who complete 7200 or 9000 premium days by December 31, 2035, can be considered eligible for retirement at age 58, and men at age 60. However, for those who complete their premium days after this date, the retirement age will increase every two years.
Many people currently in the workforce cannot qualify for retirement until age 65, even if they work continuously. Men who started working after January 1, 2019, and women who were insured after January 1, 2023, will be able to retire at age 65, even if they work in civil servant or tradesperson status. For those insured as workers, men insured after January 1, 2024, will also be subject to the age 65 requirement.
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE IN PARLIAMENT
Various legislative proposals to address inequalities in the retirement system have been submitted to Parliament. Most recently, CHP Karabük Deputy Cevdet Akçay submitted a legislative proposal to reduce the 9000 premium day requirement for tradespeople and civil servants to 7200 premium days, as is the case for workers.
This proposal envisions grading the retirement age according to premium days and the start date of employment. According to this suggestion, it is aimed to set the retirement age at 49 for women and 51 for men for those insured between September 8, 1999, and December 31, 2000, and to reach the age limit of 58 for women and 60 for men by increasing it by one year each year.