Civil servants demand abolition of 'Auxiliary Services Class' in Turkey

In Turkey, a protest outside the Ministry of Labor and Social Security highlighted the grievances of around 140,000 Auxiliary Services Class (YHS) employees. The State Civil Servants Confederation argues that this class of workers, established in 1926, is outdated and performs a wide range of duties without a defined job description.

“

This country's civil servant is still told 'You do everything.'

"This country's civil servant is still told 'You do everything,'" said Tuncay Cengiz, General Secretary of the State Civil Servants Confederation. He explained that YHS employees might work as cooks one day, cleaners the next, and then carry documents or serve tea, with their tasks changing based on their supervisor's needs. This lack of a clear role means they receive the lowest supplementary pay and bear the most ambiguous responsibilities.

“

The lifespan of promises made for years is shorter than election posters that dissolve in a drop of water.

The confederation criticized the government for remembering YHS employees only during election periods, making promises that are quickly forgotten. Cengiz stated, "The lifespan of promises made for years is shorter than election posters that dissolve in a drop of water."

“

The problem is not the budget, but the administration itself.

Despite discussions about a digital state and technological advancements, the fundamental structure of YHS employment remains unchanged. The confederation believes the solution is simple, requiring only a few lines added to an upcoming "bag law," which already accommodates thousands of articles. "The problem is not the budget, but the administration itself," Cengiz asserted, adding, "The public must pass this test."

“

The public must pass this test.