What is phased retirement? Will it pass in Parliament? Experts evaluate for 12punto

Ezgi SİVRİTEPE - 12punto.com.tr

For those who could not benefit from the EarlyRetirement(EYT) regulation,phasedretirement is a subject of debate. So, what is phased retirement? What are the conditions and who can benefit?

Phased retirement refers to the period starting from February 9, 1999, those who missedthe EYT, which covers the period before,by aday or afew monthsaredemandingit does not leave the agenda. 

WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS?

Phased retirement allows those who entered the social security system between 2000 and 2008 to retire partially once they reach a certain age and premiumdaycount. It continues to be discussed for those registered with theSocialSecurity Institution (SGK), BAĞ-KUR, and the Pension Fund.Thediscussions remain ongoing.

Within the scope of the work carried out by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the insurance start date For those with dates after 1999,ifthe phased retirement system is approved, those with insurance entries between 2000 and 2008 will be able to retire if they meet the required conditions. Regarding the efforts, Minister Vedat Işıkhan stated, "We do not have any work on internship insurance or phased retirement." he had used the expressions.

Despite Minister Işıkhan's statement, the topic of phased retirement, whichremainsa hot topicthathas not left the agenda Social Security Institution (SGK) Expert Emin Yılmaz and Mihriban Uğurlu, President of the Association for Justice in Retirement (EMADDER) spoke to 12punto.com.tr.

“WE ARE DETERMINED IN OUR JUST DEMAND”

Mihriban Uğurlu, while highlighting that opposition parties have submitted parliamentary questions and legislative proposals on the matter, pointed to the elections and stated, “There was an omnibus bill expected to be passed, but it did not. I believe normal operations will continue after the election.” he said.

Stating that they have expectations from the omnibus bill, Uğurlu expressed that they do not know whether phased retirement will be included in the law. Uğurlu said, "As an association, for phased retirement, we want a stepped scale starting from age 43, which is the cutoff point for Early Retirement (EYT), moving forward for each year of entry into the workforce. In other words, we want a retirement system that starts at 43 for those who entered in 2000, 44 for those who entered in 2001, extending up to age 54, and ending at age 54-55." she added.

Touching upon the statements made by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and Minister Vedat Işıkhan, Uğurlu said, "The Ministry of Labor and Social Security said, 'there is no work on this at the moment,' and Cevdet Yılmaz said the same thing. They left the door open by saying, 'However, this does not mean it will not happen.' Our President also mentions that there will be an improvement regarding the Social Security Institution (SGK)."  she said.

Finally, stating that they are determined in their demands, Uğurlu said, "People cannot be made to work 17-20 years longer for the sake of one day. We are both older in age and have more premium days than the people who are currently retiring," they concluded.

"ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN TURKEY"

Social Security Institution (SGK) expert Emin Yılmaz stated that there is no ongoing work on phased retirement, but that does not mean it will not happen in the future, and added: "In the past, laws similar to the EYT law were passed three times in Turkey, and the retirement system was intervened in. Currently, with phased retirement, the age is pushed back by 17 years for men and 20 years for women. For those after 2008, this age criterion goes up to 65. There is a non-governmental organization regarding phased retirement, and they are democratically seeking their rights. Based on the principle of equality, they have demands for a correction regarding their retirement conditions, especially concerning age. I do not predict it will pass for now because, due to the economic constraints the country is in, and specifically due to the social security system and the active-passive balance, I do not think the current political ideology will do it, but this is Turkey; anything can happen." he said.

He stated that those waiting for phased retirement do not have any expectations regarding premium days. Yılmaz added: "Regarding phased retirement, they are not asking for an immediate retirement criterion. What is requested is a regulation regarding the 58-60 age threshold. Your date of entry into insured employment after 2000 automatically determines the criteria related to retirement. There are retirements reaching up to age 65 related to the criteria here. The group here expects, specifically for women, a range starting from age 43 up to 50; and for men, a range starting from age 45 up to 52." he stated.

“I DO NOT EXPECT A CHANGE”

Stating that the parliamentary session will resume on April 16, Yılmaz noted that omnibus laws regarding social security and regulations specifically concerning retirees have entered our lives, “I do not think there will be a change regarding partial retirement in the short term. I predict that it will be a long-term race regarding phased retirement” he said.  

News Source: Ezgi Sivritepe