Occupational social security schemes (Chapter 2 of Directive 2006/54)

• Author: Kadriye Bakirci
• Pages: 72-74

72

6Occupational social security schemes (Chapter 2 of Directive 2006/54)

6.1General (legal) context

6.1.1Surveys and reports on the practical difficulties linked tooccupational and/or

statutory social security issues

In Turkey, there is a clear distinction between statutory pension schemes and occupational

pension schemes. More precisely, the general social insurance scheme and the health

insurance scheme are considered tobe statutory, whereas occupational pension schemes

for workers inthe public and private sector, the voluntary provident fund schemes and

other similar pension schemes fall under the category of occupational pension schemes.

6.1.2Other issues related to gender equality and social security

Under all occupational pension schemes, men and women enjoy equal treatment as

provided in the HREIA (Article 5).

6.1.3Political and societal debate and pending legislative proposals

There is neither any debate nor legislative proposals on this topic.

6.2Direct and indirect discrimination

The HREIA prohibits direct and indirect sex discrimination inall matters relating to social

security, which would include these matters (Article 2).

6.3Personal scope

Inaddition to the public and compulsory (statutory) social security system, there are

additional occupational social security funds, such as the Armed Forces Assistance Fund

(OYAK);209the Police Assistance Fund (POLSAN),210the Primary School Teachers

Assistance Fund (ILKSAN),211the Central Bank Personnel Social Security and Assistance

Foundation,212 theState-Owned Coal Mining Enterprise Employees’ Accumulation and

Assistance Fund (Eregli Komur Havzasi Amelebirligi Biriktirme ve YardimlasmaSandigi);213

and the Turk Telekom Accumulation and Assistance Fund.214 Financial sector institutions,

such asbanks, insurance companies, reinsurance companies, the stock exchange, and

chambers of commerce assistance funds (Social Insurance and General Health Insurance

Act provisional Article 20) provide additional social security services through the

foundations they have established. Currently, there are 38 such institutions.215

The followingspecial non-contributory schemes are in place for specific professional

groups:

209Actonthe Armed Forces Assistance Fund (Ordu Yardimlaşma Kurumu Kanunu), No. 205, Official Journal,

9.1.1961, No. 10702.

210ActonLaw Enforcement Agency (Emniyet Teşkilat Kanunu), No. 3201, Official Journal12.6.1937, No.

3629.

211Actonthe Primary School Teachers Assistance Fund (Hususi İdarelerden Maaş Alan İlkokulÖğretmenlerinin

Kadrolarina, Terfi, Taltif ve Cezalandirilmalarina veBuÖğretmenlerİçinTeşkil Edilecek Sağlikveİçtimai

Yardim Sandiğiİle Yapi SandiğinaveÖğretmenlerin Alacaklarina Dair Kanun), No. 4357, Official Journal

19.1.1943, No. 5308; Membership ofthis fund is voluntary.

212 Central Bank of Turkey Act (Türkiye Cumhuriyet Merkez Bankasi Kanunu), No. 1211, Official Journal

26.1.1970, No. 13409.

213Actonthe State-Owned Coal Mining Enterprise Employees’ Fund (Ereğli Havzai Fahmiyesi Maden

Amelesinin Hukukuna Müteallik Kanun), No. 151, (8 Muharrem 1340 - 10 Eylül 1337).

214Acton Turk Telekom Accumulation and Assistance Fund(Posta, Telgraf ve Telefon İdaresinin Biriktirme ve

YardımSandığıHakkında Kanun), No. 4157, Official Journal 26.12.1941, No. 4994

215Danişoğlu,E. (2002), ‘The Need for Reform in Social Security System’ (Sosyal Güvenlik Sisteminde

Yenilenme İhtiyacı);http://www.kalkinma.gov.tr/Documents/danisoge.pdf.