Turkish retirees push for World Retirees Day and higher pensions

The Turkish Retirees Association (TÜED) urged the United Nations to adopt 30 June as a World Retirees Day, citing the historic date when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk retired in 1927. Association president Kazım Ergün emphasized the growing global elderly population and called for international recognition of retirees’ contributions and rights.

On the same day, Turkish pensioner and civil‑service unions highlighted severe economic distress among roughly 17 million retirees. They warned that many live below the poverty line, with a minimum pension of about 20,000 lira versus a cost‑of‑living threshold of 35,000 lira. Union demands include raising the pension index above 22,000 lira, extending the 3,600‑point premium to first class, granting union rights, increasing the holiday bonus, providing rent assistance and eliminating health‑insurance contributions. Leaders warned that current policy amounts to a "you don’t work, you don’t live" attitude and called for urgent legislative action before Parliament adjourns.