Turk unions to launch mass protests against labor law
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Turkey's four leading unions will launch a mass demonstration against the IMF-sought social security reform bill throughout Turkey on April 1st. Labor unions said demand the bill to be withdrawn, despite the amendments.
Revolutionary Labour Unions Confederation (DISK), Confederation of Public Employees Labour Unions (KESK) Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers & Architects (TMMOB), Turkish Medical Association, and Turkish Dentists Association will join the protests, which will start at 2.00 pm (GMT 1100) with a press statement in front of the parliament building.
KESK Chairman Ismail Hakkı Tombul said on Friday they will leave their work places on April 1. He told reporters in a news conference they aim to make their voices be heard once again, adding they would also attend the rally organised by the "Health and a Secure Future for All Platform" on April 6th in Istanbul.     Â
Turkey's social security deficit exceeded 25 billion lira ($20 billion) or 4 percent of GDP in 2007, and officials warned it would reach nearly 30 billion lira this year if the reform is not passed. The long-delayed social security reform aims to cut this huge deficit and one of the conditions for the release of a 1.3 billion dollars IMF loan tranche.Â
Turkish parliament started the debates on the bill on Thursday following government and the unions came to an agreement on some portions of the bill, including a figure of 7,200 working days needed for blue-collar workers to reach retirement. But no agreement was reached on a key part of the package, more closely followed by financial markets and the International Monetary Fund, to raise the retirement age to 65.