Turkey retirement reform: EMADDER proposes gradual age model

The Retirement Justice Association (EMADDER) is actively pursuing a gradual retirement system for approximately 4 million workers who entered the social security system between September 1999 and 2008. This group was largely excluded from the previous 'EYT' retirement age reforms, leading to significant age gaps between workers with nearly identical service records.

EMADDER leadership, including President Mihriban Uğurlu, recently met with Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security Ahmet Aydın to present a proposed model. According to Uğurlu, the proposal is currently under consideration by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The proposed model suggests a tiered age and premium day requirement based on the year of insurance entry. For example, for those starting between 1999 and 2000, the proposal suggests a retirement age of 43 for women and 45 for men, with 6,400 premium days.

While discussions with political representatives and ministry officials are ongoing, there is currently no official legislative draft or finalized law passed by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) regarding this specific gradual retirement model. Currently, retirement conditions remain governed by existing laws, which mandate higher ages for those entering after 1999.