TÜED calls on the government for a flat-rate raise: 'Rent and fuel assistance is essential'

Kazım Ergün, President of the Turkey Retired Persons Association (TÜED), drew attention to the economic difficulties faced by retirees and expressed that a flat-rate raise should be applied to pensions.

In a written press statement, Ergün stated that retirees constitute the lowest income group in society. Emphasizing that millions of people are trying to survive on the current lowest pension of 14,469 TL, Ergün noted that this situation is unsustainable.

In his statement, Ergün pointed out that while civil servant retirees' pensions are increased within the framework of collective bargaining, the incomes of SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees are increased only based on the inflation rate, and he made the following assessment:

"The pension raise to be determined by the CPI figures to be announced in July will play a decisive role in our retirees' struggle for livelihood. However, considering the economic conditions and the erosion of our retirees' purchasing power, a raise indexed only to the CPI will not be sufficient. Unfortunately, TUIK's inflation figures are far from reflecting the reality of our retirees' kitchens. For this reason, remaining dependent only on the CPI rate for the July raise will mean condemning our retirees to poverty. Our demand from the government is clear. Flat-rate raises and welfare share adjustments are inevitable for our retirees to be able to breathe a sigh of relief."

Kazım Ergün also requested that the lowest pension be raised to the level of the minimum wage and that the adjustment problem experienced by citizens who retired after 2000 be resolved. Pointing out that the current pension calculation system creates serious injustices, Ergün used the following expressions:

"The current system, which leads to injustices in the method of calculating pensions, must be revised. This model, which lowers pensions as the working period increases, is contrary to the principle of equality in social security. In an environment where approximately 23 percent of our retirees are tenants and 35 percent live in houses with stoves, support such as rent and fuel assistance must also be implemented urgently."

News Source: AA