Home > Economy News > As millions of retirees await a raise, a painful picture is revealed once again: 'They've become like a ping-pong ball'

As millions of retirees await a raise, a painful picture is revealed once again: 'They've become like a ping-pong ball'

With the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) set to announce December inflation figures on January 3, the raise rates for millions of retirees and civil servants will be determined. While those with a base pension below 12,500 liras face the risk of receiving no raise at all, United Pensioners Union (Birleşik Emekli Sen) President Mahmut Şengül made a statement regarding the figures being discussed for the retirees' raise.

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How much will retirees receive in their pensions? Millions of retirees are wondering how much of a raise they will get in the new year. According to forecasts, while a raise rate between 14 and 17 percent is expected for retirees, pensioners, struggling with the cost of living, are demanding a flat-rate increase or a welfare share on top of the raise rate.

With the inflation rate that TÜİK will announce on Friday, January 3, at 10:00 AM, the raise rates for millions of citizens will be determined.

Speaking on a live broadcast on Halk TV, United Pensioners Union President Mahmut Şengül stated that retirees are unable to make ends meet. Şengül said, "We will set up the retirees' table in Çağlayan tomorrow and at Kartal Square on Sunday at 2:00 PM. We want the relevant authorities to come and see it."

"IT SHOULD NOT BE BELOW THE MINIMUM WAGE"

Noting that a lawsuit has been filed against TÜİK and emphasizing that they are intervening in the case, Şengül said, "We told the Social Security Institution (SSK) that 'it is a crime to pay a salary below the minimum wage'; they replied, 'We do not set pension salaries; we set them according to TÜİK data.' The retiree has become like a ping-pong ball. One is a state institution, and the other is also affiliated with it," he remarked.

Speaking on behalf of 4 million retirees, Şengül stated that a regulation is essential, adding, "We demand that the lowest pension be equal to the minimum wage. Retirees will do what is necessary in the first election. Our red cards are ready and waiting," he said.