Minister Isikhan unveils extensive support measures for retirees
Minister Isikhan announces special discounts, promotional payments, and initiatives to enhance retirees' welfare and declares 2024 the 'Year of Retirees'
Türkiye Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Bilgin revealed plans for new initiatives aimed at improving the lives of retirees during his visit to the AK Party Kirsehir Provincial Presidency. He also hinted at upcoming special discounts and campaigns specifically designed to benefit retirees.
Isikhan announced that special discounts and campaigns for retirees will be initiated in various sectors, including PTT Shopping Mall, Agricultural Credit Cooperatives Markets, Turkish Airlines, TCDD, GSM operators, cinemas and theaters and PTT Cargo.
Additionally, leading supermarket chains and clothing stores will offer exclusive discounts for retirees.
He also mentioned plans to establish a foundation for retirees to travel across Türkiye on cultural tours in collaboration with the Union of Municipalities.
2024 as 'Year of Retirees'
Regarding social security, Isikhan underscored that the welfare of 85 million citizens, including workers, employers, employees, civil servants, and retirees, contributes to Türkiye's prosperity and strength. He expressed that retirees deserve this welfare and highlighted the steps the AK Party has taken to ensure a sustainable social security system.
Isikhan declared 2024 as the "Year of Retirees," unveiling new promotional payments for retirees in partnership with banks. He highlighted a nearly doubled number of retirement pension promotions in public banks and ongoing initiatives to enhance promotion payments in other banks.
"As the Social Security Institution (SGK), we are making efforts to ensure an increase in promotional payments with other banks, with amounts similar to those of public banks as a minimum. After the bank protocols come into effect, retirees can apply to banks to benefit from these promotional payments," he stated.
In addition to the promotional financing, retirees will receive holiday bonuses deposited into their bank accounts between April 2 and April 5 before Ramadan Bayram. Moreover, various initiatives aimed at enhancing retirees' physical, mental, social, and cultural quality of life will be implemented throughout the Year of Retirees.
'Largest share of increasing prosperity for our retirees'
Isikhan concluded by reassuring retirees, urging them not to be swayed by opposition provocations, and emphasizing the government's commitment to continue providing retirees with the best and most up-to-date policies, as it has done in the past.
"Our esteemed retirees should rest assured and not be swayed by opposition provocations. Retirees are our pride. Just as the AK Party has implemented the best and up to date policies for retirees to date, we will continue to serve them in the same manner. As our leader has always said, as we strengthen our economy with balance and discipline, the largest share of increasing prosperity will be given to our retirees," Minister Isikhan stated.
The minister highlighted Türkiye's economic growth, stating that in 2023, Türkiye's economy grew at a rate of 4.5%, outpacing all other EU countries.
He also noted that Türkiye's national income reached a record high of $1 trillion.
Emphasizing that per capita income reached the highest level in history at $13,110, Isikhan provided insights into employment data for 2023. He stated that the unemployment rate decreased to 9.4%, with a decrease of 318,000 people compared to the previous year, reaching a total of 3.26 million people.
He highlighted that both the overall unemployment rate and the youth unemployment rate have reached their lowest points in the past decade.
Isikhan stressed that despite challenges and financial crises, Türkiye's economy has continued to grow steadily, and he anticipated a decrease in inflation by the end of the year.
Source: Newsroom
