ANKARA - Turkish Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan qualified Friday the social security bill as an important reform that secures Turkey`s future.
Workers across Turkey protested the social security and general health insurance bill under a decision by unions and professional organizations of the Labor Platform of Turkey.
Employees working at post offices, schools, hospitals, tax offices, municipalities, universities and the institutions offering transportation services suspended work from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The bill gradually raises the retirement age of women and men to 65 (actually 58 and 60, respectively) and the number of days they have to work in order to retire from 7,000 to 9,000.
"Not only those in Turkey but also those who are abroad and interested in Turkey are wondering whether Turkey can make this reform, therefore we have to fulfil this structural reform," Unakitan told reporters.
Unakitan said Turkey should make this reform to rehabilitate today`s and tomorrow`s conditions, and leave a better Turkey to next generations.
"We should not consider our matters as daily issues. We are all living in this country, and a better country is for the best interests of all of us," he told.
(BRC-MS)