TESK President calls for tax and SGK debt restructuring reforms
Bendevi Palandöken, President of the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK), has called for reforms in the restructuring of tax and Social Security Institution (SGK) debts. Palandöken noted that while the restructuring process has seen 228,000 applications in 25 days—bringing 206 billion lira in debt into payment plans—the current method of calculating interest is unsustainable.
He argued that calculating interest on top of existing interest makes the debt unpayable for many tradespeople. He requested that restructuring be based primarily on the principal amount to provide genuine relief. Furthermore, Palandöken highlighted that high debt levels prevent small businesses from accessing credit and public support, which threatens employment and economic stability.
Additionally, TESK leadership criticized the 20% withholding tax (stopaj) on workplace rents, describing it as a double burden that affects both landlords and tenants, further straining the financial capacity of tradespeople.
Entities: Bendevi Palandöken · Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen · Social Security Institution
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] 228,000 applications were made for debt restructuring in 25 days. (Bendevi Palandöken)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Total debt placed on payment plans amounts to 206 billion lira. (Bendevi Palandöken)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The 20% withholding tax (stopaj) on workplace rent creates a double burden for both landlords and tradespeople. (Bendevi Palandöken)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Debt restructuring should be calculated based on the principal amount rather than accumulated interest. (Bendevi Palandöken)
- [● 3 SOURCES] High debt loads are preventing tradespeople from accessing credit and public support. (Bendevi Palandöken)