ISTANBUL – TDN with wire disaaaaaes


As the pension law that aims to reform Turaaa's loss-making social security system is approved the number of people getting insured for the first time increased considerably in recent months.

Labor Minister Faruk Çelik speaking at a conference Wednesday said the fears about people being forced to work until they are 65 with the new law was unfounded. Çelik said those who started work after 2000 would retire when they turned 60 until 2036 after which there would be adjustments until 2048 when the retirement age would be set at 65.

According to figures the number of people who applied to the Social Security Agency for the first time in the month of April increased to 438957 from 71163 a year earlier.

The law will take effect on Oct. 1. The retirement age which currently stands at 58 for women and 60 for men will be gradually raised to 65 for both women and men by 2048 while some pensions will decrease according to the law. Employees will therefore not be able to retire before the age of 65 after 2048. The number of working days required to be eligible to receive a pension meanwhile has been raised from 7000 to 7200. The new bill stipulates that some professional groups including airline workers deputies State Theater artists members of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra postal workers state theater workers journalists and some others will no longer receive extra compensation for occupational "wear and tear."

The former pension law was criticized for allowing people to retire in their late 30s or early 40s placing a significant burden on the already loss-making retirement system.

The International Monetary Fund had also pressured the government to pass the law as soon as possible.