TESK President Palandöken: The Burden of SGK Premiums on Tradesmen Should Be Eased

Forex - TESK President Bendevi Palandöken stated that the insurance premium burden on tradesmen and artisans should be alleviated. Palandöken said, "The insurance premiums for tradesmen and artisans are indeed very high. They are already unable to pay them. The biggest problem will get worse from now on. As you know, social security premiums increase every year along with the minimum wage. However, the lowest premium has been set at the lowest tier, which has been eliminated, but it is around 6,500 TL. Now, with the re-evaluation rate coupled with the increase in the minimum wage, this premium will also rise accordingly. A 5% incentive was given to those who pay these premiums regularly, but it has been reduced to 4%. This also poses a handicap. Therefore, it becomes difficult to pay these on time as an incentive. It is crucial for these SGK premiums to be at a lower and more affordable level for tradesmen and artisans. In this regard, a standardization of pension payments for Bağ-kurlu individuals should be made for both retirees and the working population," he noted.

"RISING INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE BREAKING THE BACK OF TRADESMEN" The General President of the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Artisans (TESK), Bendevi Palandöken, stated that the annually increasing SGK premiums are breaking employers. "The insurance premiums, which increase every year based on the minimum wage, are bending the backs of employers. The insurance premiums calculated over at least the gross minimum wage impose a significant burden on our tradesmen. Along with the wage increase for the minimum wage, the lowest insurance premium paid, including the employer's share, is 6,500 TL. Our tradesmen struggle greatly to pay these amounts. With both their own insurance premiums and those of their employees, our tradesmen cannot stand upright. Urgent assistance should be provided to our tradesmen in this regard, and the insurance burden on both workers and employers should be eased. If ease is provided for employers regarding insurance premiums, it will directly impact the economy and employment. If insurance premiums decrease, tradesmen will continue to employ their existing staff and will not hesitate to hire new personnel if needed. Hiring new personnel will support employment and reduce unemployment. As more people are employed, the revenue generated from SGK insurance premiums will increase," he explained.