Changes to Military Service Fees: Impact on Civil Servant Salaries
Millions of civil servants and retirees in Turkey are eagerly anticipating the salary increases that will come into effect in the new year. The announcement of December’s inflation figures on January 3 will provide clarity regarding the inflation differences that civil servants and retirees will receive. These increases will be in addition to the compensation differences stipulated in the collective agreements.
One noteworthy change is the welfare share increase received by SSK and Bağkur retirees, which exceeds inflation. On the other hand, some payments will vary depending on the civil servant coefficient. Changes to the severance pay ceiling, paid military service fee, 65-year-old pension, and disability pension are to be expected once the civil servant salary is determined.
Social Security Counselor Emin Yılmaz touched upon the matter, stating that the lowest retired civil servant will receive a 50 percent raise, taking their salary from 9876 TL to 14,814 TL. Yılmaz also revealed that the salary of a single civil servant will increase from 20,377 TL to 30,565 TL, while a married civil servant will see their salary rise from 22,017 TL to 33,025 TL.
As per the Central Bank Market Participants Survey, the estimated December inflation rate is 3.26%, with the year closing at 65.39%. In line with these data, the inflation rate for retired civil servants and civil servants is predicted to be 38%, complementing the 50% raise.
Regarding SSK and Bağkur pensioners, it is anticipated that they will receive a 38% raise in the second year of 2023, with the lowest salary increasing from 7500 TL to 10,350 TL. There are speculations that this figure may lie between 10,000 and 11,500 TL or 12,500 TL.
The calculation of severance pay is expected to be determined in the range of 20,000 to 35,000 TL, based on the minimum gross wage and add-ons. The paid military service pay, severance pay ceiling, disability pension, and 65-year-old pensions are also projected to increase by roughly 50%.
With these anticipated increases, retirement will become more comfortable for the civil servants and retirees of Turkey. The final clarification will come with the publication of the coefficients in the first semester of 2024.
