One person's raise is worth 40 retirees: Jaw-dropping 'additional' increase for SGK and TÜİK presidents

It has been finalized that Social Security Institution (SGK) President Raci Kaya and Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) President Erhan Çetinkaya, who have a decisive influence on retiree and civil servant salaries, will be granted an additional raise of 53,696 liras each.

82,231 LIRA INCREASE

Following this additional regulation, which combines with the collective bargaining agreement increase as of the new year, the total raise the two presidents will receive will reach 82,231 liras. In contrast, the projected increase for the lowest pension will remain at only 2,041 liras. Thus, Kaya and Çetinkaya will each receive an increase equivalent to the raise amount of approximately 40 retirees combined.

According to the report by Erdoğan Süzer from Sözcü, the current salaries of SGK President Kaya and TÜİK President Çetinkaya are at the level of approximately 150,000 liras, excluding bonuses, fringe benefits, and additional duty income. Bonuses paid during the year and income obtained from different positions are not included in this figure.

WILL REACH A 55 PERCENT INCREASE

When the collective bargaining agreement and inflation difference are added, the salaries of the two bureaucrats will increase by 28,535 liras at the start of the year, rising to 178,535 liras. With the additional 53,696 lira raise to be applied on top of this, the new total salary will reach 232,231 liras. Thus, the annual raise rate for the two presidents will reach approximately 55 percent, well above official inflation. In contrast, the increase for the lowest-earning retiree remains in the 12 percent band.

DOUBLE RAISES FOR DOUBLE SALARIES

SGK President Raci Kaya had previously been criticized for his remarks attributing the deterioration in the institution's financial balance to increased life expectancy. TÜİK President Erhan Çetinkaya, on the other hand, frequently comes to the agenda with allegations that he limits salary raises by announcing low inflation figures. With the new raise regulation, the income the two presidents receive from the additional duties they perform simultaneously will also increase under the scope of both the normal raise and the additional raise.

News Source: 12punto