Social Security Expert İsa Karakaş Warns of Retirement System: Reform Essential for Sustainability

Demographic Change and Systemic Risks Turkey's social security structure is entering a critical transformation process due to demographic shifts and economic dynamics.
Former SGK Chief Inspector İsa Karakaş stated that falling birth rates and a rapidly aging population are straining the system's actuarial balance.
Karakaş issued warnings regarding the long-term sustainability of the current structure, emphasizing that restructuring the system based on up-to-date data is inevitable.
The Need for a New Retirement Model Stating that a new model is essential for the future of the system, Karakaş argued for regulations that expand the premium base and minimize informal employment.
The expert noted that the current structure should encourage employees to remain in the system and highlighted the importance of integrating digital transformation and modern working models into the social security framework.
MTP Goals and Strategic Steps Reminding that reforms planned under the Medium-Term Program (MTP) must be fully implemented, Karakaş listed the priority steps to alleviate the financial burden: Effectively combating informal employment Including segments currently outside the system into SGK coverage Increasing premium revenues Managing health expenditures more efficiently Karakaş warned that if these reforms are not implemented, the financial pressure on the system will continue to increase.