Lawmaker slams Turkey's proposed minimum pension as insufficient

Ahmet Vehbi Bakırlıoğlu, a member of the Turkish Parliament and a CHP lawmaker from Manisa, has strongly opposed the planned increase of the lowest pension to 23,552 lira. He argues that this amount is inadequate to meet the fundamental needs of retirees, particularly in light of rising living costs.

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The pensioner's salary is depleted on the third day. On the day they receive their salary, they pay their rent, the next day they pay their bills. On the third day, there is not a single kuruş left in their pocket. On the fourth day, they think about how to live.

Bakırlıoğlu presented a "Pensioner's Calendar" during a commission meeting, illustrating how monthly pensions are quickly exhausted. He detailed that after paying rent and utility bills, retirees often find themselves with no money left by the third day of receiving their pension. With the hunger threshold exceeding 36,000 lira, the proposed lowest pension falls significantly short of covering basic necessities.

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The lowest pension of 23,552 lira is far below the hunger threshold. Retirees are condemned not to live, but to survive.

The lawmaker highlighted that the average rent in Turkey has reached 24,179 lira, surpassing the lowest pension amount. Additionally, essential utility costs like electricity, water, natural gas, and mobile phone services average 2,233 lira for single pensioners. This financial strain means pensions are depleted early in the month, failing to provide sustainable living.

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The average rent in Turkey has reached 24,179 lira.

Furthermore, Bakırlıoğlu pointed out that the number of pensioners receiving the minimum pension is projected to rise from 4.9 million to 5.1 million. He contended that the share of national income allocated to pensioners has declined from 6.7% in 2020 to 5.9% currently, while the proportion of pensioners in the total population has increased. He asserted that if this share had been maintained, pensions would be approximately 40% higher, equating to around 38-39,000 lira instead of the current average of 27-28,000 lira. Bakırlıoğlu concluded by criticizing the government's economic policies, stating that they systematically impoverish pensioners each month and advocating for pensions to be raised to at least the minimum wage level.

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The number of pensioners is increasing, but the pensioner's share of the pie is shrinking. If this share had been preserved, pensions would be approximately 40% higher today.