Minister Işıkhan to CHP municipalities: 'Do not play the victim'

Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan made statements regarding the SGK debts of municipalities.

Işıkhan stated, "No municipality can claim that they have taken sincere steps regarding their debts and that we have remained indifferent. Unfortunately, there are also municipalities that have not taken any steps despite our constructive attitude. We are obliged to send payment orders to these, starting with the oldest debts, and subsequently implement foreclosures. Let me state this very clearly: if we have enforced a foreclosure on any municipality, rest assured that they have rejected every hand we extended and ignored it. Therefore, please, no municipality should play the victim."

167 REAL ESTATE SWAP OFFERS RECEIVED

Stating that they have been receiving applications for the deferment and installment of debts following the decision to collect SGK debts from municipalities, Işıkhan said, "In addition to those who have started paying their debts, there are many municipalities that want to pay in installments or have offered real estate."

Claiming that they do not discriminate based on party, Işıkhan said, "We approach all our municipalities with the same sensitivity. Because our goal is to solve the problem, not to create conflict. 167 real estate swap offers have been made by municipalities for their debts. Our units are working intensively on the process for all these offers."

Speaking about the new minimum wage that will be effective from 2025, Minister Işıkhan said, "We are in favor of protecting the welfare of our citizens and producing permanent, not temporary, welfare solutions. We will follow the same path this year as we did last December."

COMMISSION TO BE ESTABLISHED IN DECEMBER

Giving the message that the Minimum Wage Determination Commission will be established in December, Işıkhan said the following:

"The Minimum Wage Determination Commission pays attention to the current inflation rate, the country's macroeconomic balances, purchasing power, and several other variables. As our President frequently expresses, we are in favor of protecting the welfare of our citizens and producing permanent, not temporary, welfare solutions. This will also be my basic principle and philosophy. We will follow the same path this year as we did last December. As a citizen of this country and as a Minister, I desire a wage level that will not be crushed by inflation and that will protect and improve the purchasing power of our citizens. However, I cannot determine this alone. Because we have a referee role between the rates that workers and employers will propose. I hope an agreement will be reached at a favorable point. We will come together on a certain date in December. Türk-İş brought workers last year. Perhaps if there is a similar move, we would be happy to host the workers this year. After all, workers are our stakeholders."

News Source: 12punto