Turkish retirees desperate for work, unable to find jobs in their old age

Millions of retirees in Turkey are struggling to survive, with a significant portion unable to find work or resorting to informal employment despite their age. According to labor economist Prof. Dr. Aziz Çelik, out of Turkey's roughly 17 million retirees, about 2.2 million are officially employed. However, an estimated 8.5 million retirees are indirectly engaged in the labor market, and a staggering 6.3 million of them are either working without official registration or cannot find jobs at all.

“

I desperately need to work to make ends meet and support my child's education, but I can't find a job. Everywhere I go, they say there's no work because of my age.

Many retirees receive monthly pensions as low as 23,552 lira, forcing them to seek any available work to cover basic expenses. This economic pressure compels a growing number of individuals in their 60s and 70s to endure challenging working conditions. Retirees interviewed in Istanbul's Mecidiyeköy, Koşuyolu, Güngören, and Avcılar districts shared their difficult circumstances.

“

At this age, shouldn't I be relaxing or on vacation instead of rushing around?

One 64-year-old retiree lamented, "I desperately need to work to make ends meet and support my child's education, but I can't find a job. Everywhere I go, they say there's no work because of my age." Another asked, "At this age, shouldn't I be relaxing or on vacation instead of rushing around?"

“

It's a shameful situation for our country. In other countries, people travel and spend time with their grandchildren at 70. Here, people are forced to work, which is something we really need to think about.

The situation drew criticism from some retirees who contrasted Turkey's reality with other nations. "It's a shameful situation for our country. In other countries, people travel and spend time with their grandchildren at 70. Here, people are forced to work, which is something we really need to think about," one said. The desire for rest and personal time in later life is often unmet due to prevailing economic conditions, forcing many to continue working long past traditional retirement ages.

“

Our retirement is in the hereafter. There is no retirement here.