ANKARA - The industrial zone workers in OSTİM that we spoke opposed the proposed severance pay reform by the government that would stipulate the severance pay to be transferred to the public treasure, they said, "Severance pay means my dreams, why would I pay it to the state?"
The hot debate over the severance pay reform, which is about to be introduced by AKP government continues. According to the new retirement system, called Complementary Pension System, the severance pay would be transferred by a fund to the state treasury. In case the severance pay would be made through a fund that would be established for each individual employee, workers would only be able to receive one third of their severance pay at the age of 60, and they would have to see the age of 75 to get the whole payment in cash. We asked the workers working in OSTIM Organized Industrial Zone, one of the biggest industrial zones in Ankara with up to 150,000 workers, if they would like their severance pay to be transferred to the fund.
Even though there are ambiguities in the law reform as announced partly yet, the workers oppose to the regulation as they are already aware of the ongoing discussions about it.
'THE DREAM OF THE BOSSES'
As we waited at the entrance of OSTİM Subway, by the clock hit 18:00 an influx of workers, who have just ended their workday rushed into the station. One of the workers, who spoke to our microphone was Cem Tamer. Expressing that he and all his friends have been dreaming about the money they would receive from the severance pay said, "This has been an issue that has been on the agenda for years and no it's coming up again amid the pandemic is questionable, but there is no money left in the state treasury and they will turn this into a burden for the worker as well. They will get money from the worker since they will not be getting it from the pocket of the bosses."
Saying that the transfer of the severance pay to the fond is the dream of the bosses Tamer continued, "Whoever attempts to realize this policy shoots their own selves in the foot, or they might be saying 'I'm already on my last legs, so I do this before I go away' or something like that."
WORKING FOR PENSION LIABILITY AT THE AGE OF 58
Mine Toygan, who continues to work for her pension liability said, "We have a lot of dreams and severance pay means my dreams. I want to invest on those dreams, why would I pay it to the state? They would give us the money in very old age, what am I supposed to do with that money when I am that old; what good that money brings when I am inside my coffin? I am still working for my pension liability when the people in my age enjoy their time at home. They should keep their hands off the labour of the workers."
Working in a construction market for 22 years, Sami Yılmaz stated, "If the severance pay is transferred to the fund that means we have no right left in our hand and that doesn't work for us. I am against this regulation. What benefit will that money bring to us when we are in our 70s."
DON'T DESTROY THE JUSTICE
One of the workers spoke to us was Muammer saying, "The severance pay should never be transferred to the fund. I oppose to that, because as the working people we already have no rights. Even Omar his holiness once told, 'Destroy the mosque, but don't destroy the justice'. You destroy the justice with this regularion. As the severance pay is transferred to the fund, we have nothing left at hand. You work for 45 years, you won't have no rights at all and your severance will go to the fund."
Even though Fatih Öztürk, a worker in the automotive industry for 9 years, expressed, "The employers may not be willing to pay the severance, but when it's supposed to be transferred to the fund then they would have to pay," he is reactive to the minimum age limit of 75 to take whole payment, saying, "We already pass away in our 60s. If they pay me the money that late, well I don't want it. What am I gonne do with that money after 75."
'IT WILL BE THE WORKER TO LOSE'
After he described the various sectors he has been working for years in the industrial zone Selim emphasized that losing their severance pay means losing it all for the workers. Selim concluded his comments, "They want to transfer the severance pay by the funds to the state treasury, because the state got no money in their own pcoket and wants to get back on its feet. They say that they will give us the severance payment after we retire. They would leave the money on my grave after I'm 75. This is my bequeath, leave my money on my grave then."