22.04.2020 Ankara
The Short Work Allowance Information Seminar was held through a webinar with the participation of Family, Labor and Social Services Minister Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and the relevant bureaucrats, organized by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).
TOBB
President Hisarcıklıoğlu said at the opening of the seminar that they are
living together one of the important breaking points of history, “Humanity is
under threat from an unseen enemy, attacking all without regards to race,
religion, rich or poor. The first priority of countries was to take and
implement protective measures for the health of their citizens. We are working
with our Ministers under the leadership of our President. We strive to protect
the health of our people and to overcome this troubled period with minimal
damage."
Noting
that Family, Labor and Social Services Minister Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk undertook
one of the heavier duties in this process, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “You work day
and night with your team to protect both employees and employers, as well as
households and families. We have been in constant consultation with you from
day one. We share with you the problems and suggestions from our Chambers and
Sector Councils in 81 Provinces.”
Stating
that Family, Labour and Social Services Minister Selçuk immediately took action
with the outbreak in Turkey, the TOBB President said, “First of all, the scope
of the Short Working System has been expanded, and applications facilitated.
The day limit and the number of documents have been reduced by the initiatives
of our minister. In order for the applications to be finalized more quickly,
they were made electronically. The current structure of the system would
prevent payments from happening on time. We have requested that payments can be
made without a compliance review. As a result of your initiatives, the
necessary legal arrangements were made last week. Again, on the orders of our
Minister, the ministry units began to help our business world. İŞKUR and
Chamber Presidents together, informed the public of the Short Work Allowance.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
expressed that there have been some disruptions because there were applications
far above the estimates for the Short Work Allowance, “The number of
applications made in this process has reached several times the number in the
15-year period. We share every hardship with our Ministry. We believe that
these will be resolved in a short time.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
said that they will survive this troubled period with minimal damage and
continue to work together again for Turkey's development.
- Minister Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk
Family,
Labour and Social Services Minister Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk noted that steps have
been taken to facilitate the services of SGK and İŞKUR during the pandemic
process, the economic stability shield package under the leadership of
President Erdoğan has been announced, and the package boasts 100 billion TRY in
resources.
After
the package, they began to implement measures that were not found in economic
and social life, Selçuk said, and that the comprehensive commissioning of the
Short Work Allowance was one of them.
Selçuk
stated that the number of bonus payment days required to benefit from the
allowance were reduced from 600 to 450 days; 120 days of service contract to
60, “Thus, we aim to provide an income support to our employees and increase
the economic resistance of our employers.”
Reporting
that 60 percent of the workers’ last 12 months of premium basic earnings were paid
by İŞKUR, this corresponds to 75-78 percent of the worker's net wage, Selçuk also
noted that the general health insurance premiums of the workers who benefit
from the allowance were also paid.
Throughout
this recent period, Selçuk reported said that they received applications which
exceed the number of applications from the last 15 years in total, an average
of 100,000 requests per day, and that the easing of the conditions for
benefiting from the allowance increased the number of applications.
Selçuk
said that easing measures were taken to make payments in this process, and that
they left the process for determinations after payment with the latest legal
arrangement, which accelerated payments.
Selçuk,
reported that the payments for March have been completed.
Selçuk
reminded that arrangements were made to restrict the termination of the work
contract in order to protect workers and employment, so that businesses will
adapt more easily to production without losing any workers when the wheels start
to spin at their old speed.
With
the restriction of termination, the pandemic period free leave cash fee support
was implemented and those who benefited from it are covered by general health
insurance premiums, Selçuk noted that for this year, 75 TRY minimum wage
support will be maintained, so that close to 7 billion TRY of support will be
provided over the minimum wage.
- Applications for more than 3
million workers from up to 270,000 companies
Selçuk,
in regards to Short Work Allowance applications, said, “So far we have had more
than 3 million applications, close to 270,000 companies are concerned. The
reach of 3 million applications shows that our employers are keeping their
employment contracts. All our employees have already been protected from employment
with the restriction of termination."
Selçuk,
who conveyed statistics on the number of workers and sectors of the workplaces
where applications came from, said that the measures to be taken according to
this data will be discussed.
One
of the most important issues is the proper implementation of short work
allowance applications, Selçuk said, some applications received with repeated
or missing ones reported.
Selçuk
emphasized that there are no restrictions on the sector or the number of
workers in benefiting from the allowance, and said that all businesses can
apply.
Selçuk
said, “We are in an extraordinary situation. The whole world is trying to fight
the pandemic. With the measures we have taken on health, economy, working life
and social life from the very beginning, we are currently successfully carrying
out the process. We're trying to execute it quickly. This is happening with
your support on the field.”
Workers,
employers and the state will survive this process in the spirit of national
mobilization, Selçuk noted, the economy revived, said they believe that
production will continue more vividly than before.
Selçuk,
"Everyone's only goal is not to leave our employees’ income unsupported.
That's the instruction we got from our President. We will be with our
employees, we will protect employment, we will make the economic and financial
resistance of our businesses and companies strong."
- “We believe employment will
increase”
Minister
Selçuk, answered questions after the statements.
To
the question of “Are all sectors benefiting from short work allowance?”, Selçuk
reiterated that there are no sector restrictions on this issue, that everyone
can apply.
Selçuk
stated that they are looking for eligibility in the applications; the company
is either completely stopped work or working at a third of its capacity.
Stating
that the Unemployment Insurance Fund exists both to increase the resistance of
the employer and to protect the employment of the employee on such days, Selçuk
asked employers for a promise to increase employment after the coronavirus.
Selçuk
said that she believes Turkey will be able to say to the world: “We have
survived the pandemic process and closed this year by increasing employment,”
noting the importance of TOBB’s leadership.
Selçuk
stated that a message is sent to the employer regarding the short work
allowance informing them that their application has been accepted, said, “We
will convert the eligibility determination to after payment. At this stage, our
most important goal for April-May is to be able to reach this quickly.”
Selçuk
pointed out that eligibility determinations will be easier, unlike as in the
past.
TOBB
President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, answering Minister Selçuk’s question in regards
to how many jobs will be provided at the end of the year, said, “That will
depend on what will the effect of the coronavirus be on the world, the Turkish
economy, the impact on the world economy. We, as Turkish employers, are
especially proud of the number of people we employ.”
Indicating
that employers will conduct a survey Hisarcıklıoğlu, said that they will
communicate this to the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services with
İŞKUR.
Minister
Selçuk, at the end of the program, celebrating the National Sovereignty and
Children's Day on April 23rd, “We are coming to the end of a
century. Hopefully, we will witness a more prosperous, more dynamic, productive
period of Turkey in the future.”
Selçuk,
urging to comply with the social distancing by staying at home against the pandemic
during Ramadan, said that this process has shown that employers and employees
can overcome Turkey's challenges.