The Harms of Early Retirement on Working Life and the Great Danger Awaiting Turkey

ISO: Workforce Stagnates in Industry, Early Retirement Causes Harm

Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ICI) President Erdal Bahçıvan said that the labor shortage in the industry and the fact that young people prefer sectors other than manufacturing are worrying. Stating that early retirement deepens this problem, Bahçıvan emphasized that working in the industry should be made more attractive.

What was discussed at the ISO April Assembly Meeting?

• At the April assembly meeting of ISO, Vedat Işıkhan, the Minister of Business and Labor and Social Security, came together with the main agenda of “Looking at Working Life with a Visionary Approach; Expectations and Solution Suggestions of Our Industrialists” and discussed the problems of the labor market and industry.
• Bahçıvan emphasized that Turkey needs a medium-term, consistent and sustainable employment policy. In this context, he said that studies should be carried out for the effective and efficient use of human resources at all levels of education through an education planning in which YÖK will be involved.
• Pointing out that brain drain should be prevented and the education system should be updated to meet the expectations of young people, Bahçıvan said, “In this context, first of all, we have to reverse the brain drain, which is becoming a more serious problem in our country every day. Our education system has undergone a comprehensive reform, from curriculum updates to instructor training policy.” “The expectations of our young people from education should be raised,” he said.

The Number of Employees in the Industry Does Not Increase

• Bahçıvan stated that one of the most important problems in employment is that employees prefer the service and public sectors instead of industry. Stating that according to 2023 TÜİK data, only 21.2% of those employed work in the industrial sector and this rate has remained at the same level for the last 20 years, Bahçıvan said, “The way to develop our country and reach a welfare society is through the production economy. At this point, working in the industrial sector should be made more attractive.” ” said.
• Bahçıvan said that employment costs should be reduced to competitive levels, flexible working models should be paved the way, and measures should be taken to make industrial labor that will realize high value-added production attractive.

Flexible Working Models Supported

• Explaining that flexible, partial and remote working models have entered business life intensively with the pandemic and are more preferred by the new generation, Bahçıvan emphasized that the legislation and implementation infrastructure should be strengthened especially for these different working models.
• Stating that labor cases are one of the issues that occupy the agenda of the business world the most, Bahçıvan said, “The fact that the majority of labor cases heard in the courts are concluded against the employer is an important problem in creating employment. In order for our country’s industry to take its place in world competition, equal conditions and equal rights are required for both workers and employers.” “Unity of purpose and working in peace are of great importance for the future of our country’s economy. The aim in cases should be to ensure justice, not to protect one side,” he said.

Request for Change in Severance Pay System

• Bahçıvan argued that the current severance pay system victimizes both the employee and the employer. From the worker’s perspective, Bahçıvan stated that the rate of workers who can receive severance pay within the current system is below 15% and said, “For this reason, the issue of severance pay will be reviewed within the framework of the basic elements that the current burden of the employer will not be increased and the new models to be created will not cause any concern for the savers.” It is time to reform it by passing