Panel on "Social Protection in Old Age" by HAK-İŞ and HAK EMEK DER: Retirees Demand Wages Worthy of Human Dignity!

ANKARA - HAK-İŞ Confederation and HAK Pensioners' Association (HAK EMEK DER) organized a critical event within the scope of October 1st World Elderly Day. In the panel titled "Social Protection in Old Age and Trade Union Perspective" organized with the participation of Confederation President Mahmut Arslan, the economic difficulties of retirees, injustices in the social security system and the Supplementary Pension System (TES) were discussed.

Arslan: "Retirees are forced to work, this is a great injustice"

In his opening speech, General President Mahmut Arslan drew attention to the labor that the elderly and pensioners put into the country and stated that they should receive the value they deserve. Arslan emphasized the dramatic situation of pensioners due to the economic conditions in the country:

• Compulsory Labor: Stating that 2 million 154 thousand retirees continue to work by paying social security support premiums again, Arslan said that this situation does not contribute to anything, including their own pensions, and that this is a great injustice and unfairness. Arslan said that a transformation should be put into the system in a way that would at least benefit registered workers.

• Employee Doesn't Get a Share of Growth: Pointing out that despite official statistics showing that the country is growing, national income is increasing and unemployment is at a low level, workers and retired people do not get enough share from this growth, he stated that the problem here should be solved and discussed.

• Wages Worthy of Human Dignity: Stating that pensioners deserve a wage worthy of human dignity, Arslan said, "It is the responsibility of our state to bring their pensions to a point worthy of human dignity. We also have a responsibility to fight against this issue."

TES Debate and Call for Social Dialogue

General President Arslan criticized the lack of adequate discussions with the trade unions on the Supplementary Pension System (TES), which was included in the Medium Term Program (MTP). Stating that this situation is unacceptable, Arslan said that within the framework of social dialogue, it would be more appropriate to discuss the issue with workers' unions before experts and economists and to reach minimum commonalities.

Clear Demands from HAK EMEK DER

Participating in the panel, HAK EMEK DER President Remzi Karataş stated that the fact that pensioners have to live with low salaries does not befit the principle of social state. Karataş, as HAK EMEK DER, listed their demands regarding the problems that need to be solved as a priority:

1. Pensioners' salaries should be raised to a decent living level.

2. All kinds of co-payments and additional burdens on access to health services should be removed.

3. Pensioners should be represented in trade unions and decision-making mechanisms.

4. The social security system should be reorganized in a way that guarantees the dignified life of pensioners.

Mahmut Arslan invited all pensioners to organize under the roof of HAK EMEK DER in order to gain rights and have a say in solving problems. Arslan also announced that the work to establish a union for pensioners is ongoing and that they will give the good news as soon as possible.

ILO: Older People are Key Actors in Social Progress

Attending the panel, ILO Turkey Director Yasser Ahmed Hassan emphasized that the elderly are the most fundamental actors of social progress. Hassan noted that precariousness emerges with retirement in Turkey and around the world, and emphasized the importance of ILO Convention No. 102, which states that everyone should have an adequate and predictable income without discrimination.

The panel ended with presentations by academics on demographic aging in Turkey and the role of union organizing.