Turkey debates gradual retirement law as senior worker fatalities rise

The Turkish Parliament has not yet enacted a gradual retirement law for workers who first entered social security after September 8, 1999. The Emeklilikte Adalet Derneği (EMADDER) has proposed a tiered system that would lower the retirement age and required contribution days for these employees, arguing that the current rules create a large age gap compared with earlier cohorts. No such legislation has been published in the Official Gazette, and the proposal remains under public discussion.

In the first half of 2026, 72 workers aged 65 and over died while on the job, a 29 % increase over the same period in 2025. The deaths, recorded by the Workers' Health and Safety Council, underline the pressure on low‑pension retirees who return to hazardous employment. Incidents ranged from construction accidents and high‑voltage line electrocution to machinery collisions, highlighting the risks faced by seniors who continue working despite inadequate retirement benefits.