Unemployment Fund Evaporates!

With the crisis, the number of unemployed people has risen to over 3 million. The Unemployment Fund, which was established to support the people who are laid off, is being transferred to the general budget and thus, being evaporated.

According to figures by the Turkish Labour Institution, a total of 7 billion 125 million Turkish Liras have been transferred to the treasury from the fund from the day it was established in March 2002 until June 2010. The transfers were made within the scope of the Southeastern Anatolian Project.

During the same period, the total amount of money paid to 1 million 945 thousand 183 people, whose applications were accepted, was less than half this amount: 3 billion 375 million Turkish Liras (1.7 million euros).

In June, a total of 62 million 294 thousand Turkish Liras (31 million euros) were paid to 180 thousand 117 people.

According to the April figures of the Turkish Statistics Institute, there are 3 million 71 thousand unemployed people.

Unions and economists state that the real number of unemployed people is much higher. And according to official figures, only one out of 17 unemployed persons are paid.

The state gave 6, took 7

The government made a legal amendment in June 2009, when the economic crisis intensified, and paved the way for the transfer of three fourths of the fund revenues in 2009 and 2010, and one thirds of fund revenues in 2011 and 2012 to "the treasury to be used in infrastructure investments in development and social improvement projects, and especially the Souteastern Anatolian Project."

The Ministry of Finance has Authority

According to ISKUR figures, there is 44 billion Turkish Liras (22 billion euros) in the fund as of the end of June. Out of this amount, 17 billion 865 million (9 billion euros) are premiums deducted from labourers and employers. A total of 6 billion Turkish Liras (3 billion euros) was transferred to the fund as State contribution.

One percent of the salaries of workers with social security are deducted to be transferred to the fund each month. The employer contributes 2 percent, while the state contributes 1 percent.

Half of the hunger limit

It is possible to get money from the unemployment fund for 6 to 10 months. In June, an average of 345 Turkish Liras were paid per person.

On the other hand, according to the calculations of the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions, the poverty limit for a family of four is 2 thousand 784 (1,400 euros), and hunger limit is 765 TL (382 euros).

Another payment from the fund is the "short work payment." This payment is made to workers laid off "due to crisis." In five years, 18 thousand 687 people received this payment and a total amount of 32 million 160 thousand Turkish Liras (16 million euros) was paid. (EU)