Backstage buzz intensifies over 2025 retiree holiday bonus: Will there be a raise?
Following the raise in pension payments, questions regarding holiday bonuses have come to the fore. As discussions continue over a potential increase in bonuses ahead of the 2025 Ramadan Feast, retirees are expecting around 7,500 TL... How much will the 2025 retiree holiday bonus be? Here are the figures being discussed behind the scenes...
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Holiday bonuses, which were introduced at 1,000 TL in 2018 and increased to 3,000 TL last year, continue to be an important source of additional income for retirees. As of 2025, with a 15.75 percent raise applied to retiree salaries, eyes are now turned to whether holiday bonuses will be increased.
If a 15.75 percent raise is also applied to the bonuses, the figure will rise to 3,472 TL.
According to some behind-the-scenes information, raising the bonuses to 5,000 TL is on the agenda.
Retirees, however, are expecting a bonus of 7,500 TL.
HOW MUCH WILL THE 2025 HOLIDAY BONUS BE?
The Ramadan Feast will be celebrated on March 30, and the Feast of Sacrifice on June 6.
Retirees expect the 2018 practice to be continued and for holiday bonuses to be increased in proportion to the lowest pension salary.
Speaking to Milliyet, Certified Public Accountant Ahmet Kurtuluş emphasized that holiday bonuses should be increased and made the following statement:
"When it was first implemented, the holiday bonus corresponded to approximately half of the lowest pension salary. However, it has now fallen well behind that figure. If the old ratio is maintained, the bonus needs to be raised to 7,500 TL."
However, there are also claims that the government may set this figure at the 5,000 TL level.
IS A LEGAL REGULATION REQUIRED FOR THE HOLIDAY BONUS?
In the current situation, a new legal regulation is required to increase holiday bonuses. If no new regulation is made, retirees will receive a 3,000 TL holiday bonus again.
Experts state that the government will make a decision based on budget possibilities and that the final figure will be announced shortly.
IS THERE NEW SUPPORT FOR RETIREES?
Apart from holiday bonuses, new support packages for retirees are also on the agenda. There is a high expectation for a regulation, especially regarding food expenditures.
Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan stated that negotiations with banks are ongoing and indicated that special discounts could be provided on retirees' salary cards.
It is expected that certain rates of discounts will be applied to food purchases made with retiree salary cards during 2025.