Statement from SSI Specialist Özgür Erdursun on a rolling increase for retired civil servants

SSI Expert Özgür Erdursun evaluated the 8 thousand 77 Turkish Lira pay raise given to civil servants in 2023, but not reflected on retired civil servants, and the legal process in the Constitutional Court (AYM). The case filed by former Supreme Court of Appeals Member Seyfettin Çilesiz and Lawyer Ali Erdem Gündoğan has started to be discussed on its merits by the Constitutional Court.

With the regulation that came into force on July 15, 2023, a pro-rata increase of 8 thousand 77 Turkish Liras was given to working civil servants, but this right was not given to retirees. Erdursun underlined that the rights provided to working civil servants by law should also be reflected to retirees.

Stating that the case was legally filed against retired civil servants, Erdursun emphasized that the inflation grievance affected all segments of society: "Although the priority is given to retired civil servants in accordance with the law, it is essential that SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees living under the same conditions also benefit from this increase."

Stating that if the regulation does not cover all retirees, there will be a serious gap between retiree groups, Özgür Erdursun underlined that SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees gave mass support to this case in the Constitutional Court by launching signature campaigns.

Pointing out that the case was filed to cover retroactive rights as of 2023, Erdursun stated that the loss of rights that did not reach the pockets of retired civil servants in the last 37-38 months has reached a serious level.

Stating that the unpaid amount since July 2023 has been updated with official data, Erdursun said that in the calculation made based on today's values, the total retrospective receivables of each retired civil servant is approximately 580 thousand Turkish Liras.

Explaining the current equivalent of the first amount in 2023, Erdursun said, "The current equivalent of the 8 thousand 77 liras given in 2023, updated with TÜİK inflation, is exactly 23 thousand 412 liras."

Stating that the calculations will continue until the moment of decision, Erdursun explained the difference that will be reflected in the salaries and said, "When the court decides, with the calculations to be made until that date, this difference will increase to the level of perhaps 25 thousand or even 30 thousand liras."

Stating that a possible positive decision would create a giant leap in salaries, the SSI expert emphasized that, for example, the salary of a retired civil servant who receives 30 thousand liras monthly could suddenly rise to 53 thousand, 55 thousand or even 60 thousand liras.