The retiree's troubles never end! Prof. Dr. Duran Bülbül: 'The SSI has been usurping rights since 2008'

Ezgi SİVRİTEPE - 12punto.com.tr

The Early Retirement (EYT) regulation went into effect on March 1, 2023. The issue of gradual retirement remains on the agenda for citizens who could not benefit from this right and whose insurance registration began after September 8, 1999. 

Although Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan stated regarding the matter, "We do not have any work on internship insurance or gradual retirement," the citizens' demand continues. 

Prof. Dr. Duran Bülbül from the Atılım University Department of Finance provided his assessments on the subject to 12punto.com.tr.

"THE GOVERNMENT IS INSINCERE"

Stating that the concept of gradual retirement is an open-ended phenomenon, Bülbül said, "Fundamentally, a 20-year calculation should be made for the gradual retirement system according to the Social Security Law. The ministries responsible for social security and finance should come together and reveal the burden that this gradual retirement will place on the Turkish budget system and social security. For this reason, I see the gradual retirement system as a bit more of a political phenomenon. I also think the government is insincere in terms of its implementation."

1 EMPLOYEE SHOULD FINANCE 4 RETIREES

Evaluating the labor system, Bülbül stated that for gradual retirement to be sustainable, 1 employee must finance 4 retirees, adding, "When we look at it in this sense in our country, the Social Security Law has been broken." 

RETIREMENT AS A SOCIAL RIGHT

Stating that retirement is a social right and should be viewed as a fundamental right within the social security system, Bülbül also mentioned new methods for pension payments as follows:

"The Social Security System needs to be pulled out of the retirement system and the premium system. The Social Security Institution should only look after personnel and retirement rights. Other premiums should be collected by the Ministry of Finance. One of the most important reasons for the budget deficit is social security deficits. In other words, because the premium revenues of social security are insufficient, they are covered by the central budget."

Stating that the biggest problem of the Turkish economy is 'loss and leakage', Bülbül said, "According to our calculations based on the 2023 budget, there is a loss of 300 billion due to the fact that the retirement premium system is not operated correctly within social security. This means that if we had allocated this correctly, the budget deficit would have decreased or perhaps would not have existed at all." 

Emphasizing that the Turkish economy will not discuss its preparations for the retirement system, Bülbül said, "Retirement is a right. The SSI must know who will reach this right and when. The economy can handle this. According to constitutional and international norms, it is now necessary to abandon retirement through worker premiums and put it into the budget; the personal rights of retirees should be met in this way."  

"IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY TAXES"

Also criticizing the SSI, Bülbül compared payments from past years with current payments. Bülbül stated, "Since 2008, the SSI has been usurping the rights of retirees. In 2002, when a person received a salary of one thousand lira, they would receive 700 lira upon retirement. However, they changed it after 2008; this is the problem of retirees. The monthly accrual rates need to be corrected. Retirees' salaries need to be covered by citizens' taxes." 

ELECTION BRIBE TO THE CITIZEN

Stating that retirement salaries should be included in the central budget, Bülbül said, "The allowances for those who will retire each year should be included in the central budget and these allowances should be covered by the central budget. The retirement system can currently handle gradual retirement. If irregularities and corruption are ended, the Turkish economy can also handle retirement; it will not have a budget deficit; it will become a country that provides loans." 

Stating that this is not a right obtained by the citizen, Bülbül indicated that promises are given to the citizen as bribes during election times and used the following sentences:

"There is no right that the citizen has obtained by showing sensitivity and taking it by force. The political power only provides a voting mechanism and bribes for election time; the citizen thinks they have obtained it themselves. In our country, there is no authority for unions or labor organizations to defend these rights regarding fundamental rights and duties. The government only gives retirement salaries as a bribe in exchange for votes whenever it wants. This means that the democratic norms of this country are not functioning."