“We are building a chain of trust that will last for generations with a sustainable social security system...”
Messages sent by public institutions sometimes lose touch with reality to such an extent that they generate anger rather than trust. The congratulatory message sent by the SSI for Social Security Week has exactly such an effect. Because for millions of people in Turkey today, “social security” has become a struggle not to look to the future with confidence, but to make ends meet.
Which worker is really safe today?
In a country where the minimum wage is based on the hunger limit, rents exceed salaries, young people are unemployed with their diplomas, and retirees are forced to work again, the discourse of “guaranteeing the future” sounds more like propaganda than wishful thinking.
The majority of working people in Turkey are losing not only their labor but also their quality of life. Although we are one of the busiest countries in Europe in terms of weekly working hours, the wages received are not enough to live humanely. People leave home in the dark of the morning and return at night, but are still stuck between rent, bills and basic needs.
A social state is not just about collecting premiums. A social state means that citizens have easy access to health care when they are sick, that they do not go hungry when they are unemployed, and that they can live with dignity in old age. Today, on the other hand, there are appointments at hospitals that are months away, people forced to go to private hospitals, rising medicine prices and co-payments. Rather than reassuring citizens, the system spreads the feeling of “fend for yourself”.
What is even more striking is that young people can no longer dream for the long term. Owning a house, saving, even planning a vacation is considered a luxury. University graduates are working in low-paid jobs, while even white-collar workers are living below the poverty line. In such a situation, is it possible for the phrase “confident steps into the future” to resonate with society?
A country's social security system is measured not only by its budget tables, but also by how it is received in people's daily lives. If people are afraid of getting sick, being unemployed or retiring tomorrow, there is uncertainty, not confidence.
Of course social security institutions are necessary. But real security is not achieved through SMS slogans, but through fair wage policies, strong trade union rights, an accessible health system and decent living conditions.
Because where the worker is not safe, it is not possible to talk about the future being safe.