Staff at post offices, schools, hospitals, tax offices, municipalities, universities and public transport workers stopped work between 10:00 am and midday, in a demonstration of union discontent with the government’s draft legislation, which will raise the retirement age.
The government’s reforms will erode the rights of workers and the legislation was drafted without due consultation with employee’s representatives, unions claim.
Mustafa Kumlu, the chairman of the Turkish Confederation of Labor Union (Turk-Is), said Friday that the government should take into consideration the proposals put forward by the unions and make the necessary amendments to the bill Among the proposed reforms, workers will have to have been employed for a minimum of 9000 days before they are entitled to a retirement pension, up from the present 7000 days.
