Parliament Passes 5.43 Billion TL Budget for Ministry of Labor and Social Security
The budget of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, totaling 5 billion 430 million 161 thousand TL, was approved by the Parliament with a majority vote. The General Assembly of the Parliament, which began at 13:00 with discussions on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget, concluded around 01:00 after 12 hours of work.
During the discussions on the budget of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, CTP Deputy Ürün Solyalı expressed concerns about the adequacy of the ministry’s budget. Solyalı emphasized the need for a clear explanation from the Ministry regarding the obsolete collective bargaining agreement. He criticized the draft prepared on this issue, stating that it interfered with the collective bargaining rights of employees and employers. Solyalı called for the withdrawal of this controversial regulation, which he deemed unconstitutional.
Furthermore, CTP Deputy Devrim Barçın highlighted the potential negative impact of a proposed law aimed at reducing the cost of living on citizens. Barçın raised concerns about potential decreases in the salaries of insurance retirees and urged the government to engage in dialogue to address these issues. He emphasized the importance of withdrawing laws that reduce purchasing power and proposed holding a meeting to discuss alternative solutions.
In response to the concerns raised by the deputies, Minister of Labor and Social Security Sadık Gardiyanoğlu assured that the Ministry operates transparently through an online portal for follow-ups. Gardiyanoğlu emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to facilitating access to medicines and prescriptions, explaining the processes involved.
Gardiyanoğlu announced that 2024 has been declared the year of social service and highlighted the Ministry’s efforts to improve caregiving and rehabilitation services. He mentioned ongoing work to establish a comprehensive rehabilitation center and addressed the changes in laws related to the Ministry’s departments.
After Gardiyanoğlu’s speech, the 2025 budget of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security was approved by a majority vote, marking the end of the General Assembly’s session. The budgets of other ministries, including Health, Court of Accounts, Courts, and YÖDAK, will be discussed in the Parliament tomorrow.
