While the first signals were given that a significant change would be made regarding severance pay in the Medium Term Program (MTP), Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, who made a statement on the subject, stated that this issue would still be on Turkey's agenda in the coming days.
In the written statement signed by the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş) Board of Directors, it was pointed out that the regulations to be made under the name of reform in the Medium Term Program (MTP) caused concern and discomfort among the workers.
"THE BRINGING OF SUCH AN ISSUE TO THE AGENDA DISTURBED THE PEACE OF WORKING LIFE"
In the statement made on behalf of Türk-İş Board of Directors, it was pointed out that severance pay has improved with every change made since 1936 and has become an uncompromising, indispensable, acquired right for workers.
"Türk-İş argues that the right to severance pay should be protected and developed, not eroded, changed, or made a part of retirement. It has always been expressed that we are ready to contribute to this issue if it is aimed to include workers who cannot benefit from this right. The fact that such a regulation proposal was brought to the agenda and discussed in the MTP has disrupted the peace of working life. The aim of the retirement system to be introduced is not to create a structure that will compensate retirees' income loss and maintain their living standards during the working period, but to meet the resource needs of the economy," the statement said.
“SACRIFICE SHOULD BE MADE BY THOSE WHO INCREASE THEIR INCOME AND WEALTH”
In the statement, it was stated that the discussion of the right to severance pay disturbed the workers, and it was stated that a regulation regarding the essence of severance pay would negatively affect the productivity and work motivation of the worker.
"The erosion of severance pay, which is the guarantee of the future for workers, against inflation should be stopped, and initiatives that may cause loss of rights in severance pay should be stopped. It is clear that there is a crisis in the country's economy. The living conditions of low and fixed income segments, especially workers, have become worse. High inflation eliminated the effect of wage increases and purchasing power gradually decreased. The tax burden has reached immovable proportions. The expectation of employees is that measures that will improve living and working conditions will come into force quickly. The sacrifice should be made by those who have increased their income and wealth in the past period," the statement added.