Updated Retirement Conditions for Bağ-Kur: Details on Early Retirement Clarified
Accelerating Reforms in Bağ-Kur Retirement Requirements
The Ministry of Labor and Social Security is making significant strides in reforming the pension system for Bağ-Kur members. The current threshold of 9,000 premium days required for retirement is set to be lowered, bringing it closer to the 7,200 days mandated for Social Security Institution (SSK) beneficiaries. This change is anticipated to be implemented at the start of 2025, aiming to promote fairness and ease the retirement process for small tradespeople.
Equalizing Premium Day Requirements Between Bağ-Kur and SSK
At present, male Bağ-Kur registrants must accumulate 9,000 days of premium contributions, while women are required to meet 7,200 days. Conversely, SSK workers can qualify for retirement with 7,200 days of contributions, regardless of gender. The upcoming regulation seeks to harmonize these requirements, allowing Bağ-Kur members to retire with a reduced premium period—potentially saving them around five years of work, depending on individual circumstances.
Scope and Eligibility of the New Regulation
This reform will not be universally applicable to all Bağ-Kur insureds. It primarily targets small tradespeople such as barbers, shopkeepers, farmers, and similar self-employed artisans—an estimated one million individuals—who will benefit from the lowered premium days. Additionally, there is consideration for extending this benefit to small business owners with 10 to 15 employees. However, voluntary insured persons are expected to remain outside the scope of this regulation.
Maintaining Retirement Age While Reducing Premium Criteria
Importantly, the reform will not alter the statutory retirement ages—58 for women and 60 for men. Instead, it focuses solely on reducing the number of required premium days, enabling eligible individuals to retire at the same age but with fewer contribution years. This adjustment aims to facilitate earlier retirement without impacting the existing age thresholds.
Industry and Stakeholder Reactions
Vezir Agency spoke with Bendevi Palandöken, President of TESK, who emphasized the urgency of transforming the announced plans into concrete action. He stated, “The long-awaited regulation granting additional premium days to tradespeople must be swiftly implemented.” Palandöken also highlighted that tradespeople contribute additional health premiums, which are vital for accessing healthcare services, underscoring the importance of timely reforms.
Official Announcements and Technical Progress
Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan confirmed that efforts to reduce the premium day requirements are gaining momentum. Internal sources within the ministry indicate that the technical aspects of the regulation are nearly finalized, with the remaining step being the legal approval process. The government aims to enact these changes to support small tradespeople in achieving early retirement more easily.
Target Groups and Exclusions
The reform’s primary beneficiaries will be small-scale entrepreneurs who have been insured after 1999. Those insured before this date are expected to be largely excluded, as many have already benefited from earlier pension reforms, such as the Early Retirement System (EYT). This focus aims to streamline the implementation process and target those most in need of reduced contribution thresholds.
Anticipated Timeline and Future Outlook
According to Noyan Doğan, a seasoned columnist for Hürriyet, the regulation is projected to be finalized by the end of 2025 and to be in effect from the beginning of the new year. This development will mark a significant milestone for tradespeople and small business owners who have long awaited more flexible retirement options.
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