The cost of living continues to bend everyone's back. Pointing out that civil servants working in metropolitan cities face many difficulties in terms of livelihood, Turkey Kamu-Sen Union Chairman Önder Kahveci called for the reorganization of the food and road aid given to civil servants and the introduction of new social benefits.
The cost of living, which started with the pandemic, continues to bend the back of every citizen. Pointing out that the civil servants working in metropolitan cities face many difficulties in terms of livelihood, Önder Kahveci, Chairman of the Turkey Kamu-Sen Union, stated that the average civil servants have difficulties in living in cities such as Istanbul and Ankara, and called for a regulation regarding the social assistance given to civil servants.
“IT BECOMES A DREAM FOR A CIVIL SERVANT TO MEET LUNCH FROM RESTAURANTS”
Pointing out that the average civil servant's salaries, along with social benefits, are insufficient against the increasing rent and food costs, noting that it is not possible for civil servants living in cities like Istanbul and Ankara to make a living, Kahveci said, “When it is taken into account that the average civil servant salary is 10 thousand 421 Turkish Liras (TL), including social benefits, it appears to be not possible for a civil servant to meet the monthly rent expenses of around 5-6 thousand TL, especially in Istanbul and Ankara, and to provide for his family. The rising food prices due to inflation also increased the kitchen expenses, and it becomes a dream for a civil servant to meet his lunch from restaurants.”
“MEALING OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES HAS TURNED INTO A MAJOR ORDEAL”
Pointing out that the issue of meals given to civil servants in institutions where no catering service is provided is a serious problem, Kahveci stated that working civil servants often have difficulties in meeting their meals and said, “Due to the fact that food aid cannot be given to civil servants in cash as per the regulation, our civil servants are directed to the dinin halls of other institutions in institutions where food service is not provided, and most of the time, meals are not served in these institutions because there is a shortage of food in these dining halls and our civil servant have to meet their meals by their own means. Therefore, while workers fully benefit from a service provided, some civil servants can benefit for only a certain fee, while in institutions that do not have catering services, the issue of meals for public employees turns into a great ordeal.”
“MEAL AND TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE MUST COVER ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS”
Stating that the economic developments forced the civil servants, Kahveci pointed out that the inflation had eroded the salaries received and said, “It has become a necessity to update the food aid for public employees, to expand the service and transportation aids to cover all civil servants, and to add social aid items such as rent and clothing aid to the acquis.”