Palandöken: The Retail Sector Must Be Updated Without Delay

Foreks - The President of TESK, Bendevi Palandöken, expressed hopes that the new year will be a year of growth and development for tradespeople and artisans, stating that the retail sector needs to be updated without delay. Palandöken said, “I hope that 2025 will be a year when the problems of all people, tradespeople, and artisans in our country are resolved. As you know, addressing the high inflation that affects the working lives of tradespeople, the increasing input costs, and the difficulties in social security is of great importance. Both our citizens and our tradespeople and artisans have faced a serious test in combating inflation. Therefore, among the expectations of our tradespeople and artisans, reducing inflation, resolving the difficulties in the retail sector, and making regulations to enhance competitiveness stand out.”

Palandöken, the General President of the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Artisans (TESK), noted that tradespeople and artisans, who have left a challenging year behind, are looking forward to new regulations in the new year. “In 2024, together, we battled against the pandemic that followed 2020, earthquakes, and economic difficulties in our country. I hope that in 2025, especially the issues in social security will be resolved through a norm unit. Steps, such as regulating insurance premiums and pensions for Bağ-Kur members and their insured employees and changing the retirement condition from 9,000 workdays to 7,200 workdays, should be taken. With low inflation, efforts to reduce prices and ensure social justice need to accelerate. Tradespeople and artisans are a group that fights as much as possible for the peace and security of the country. Ensuring the survival of this group is crucial for the continuation of the artisan trade, which is the livelihood of millions of families and for preserving professions like apprenticeship, journeyman, and mastery,” he stated.

Stating that the protection of tradespeople is necessary as outlined in Article 174 of the Constitution in the new year, Palandöken mentioned, “In recent years, while tradespeople and artisans have borne a significant burden in combating high prices, our citizens have also strived to overcome living difficulties. Tradespeople and artisans are not just a group engaged in commerce; they also guarantee the peace of the country. In our relationships with tradespeople in every neighborhood, street, and province, we are collectively struggling with issues such as price increases and service procurements. I wish for 2025 to be a year without problems for tradespeople and artisans. In the government's work and under Article 174 of the Constitution, many issues related to protecting tradespeople and artisans need to be resolved as soon as possible. We believe that this year will be one in which difficulties are overcome together, success is achieved in combating inflation, and unfair competition is curtailed. Significant efforts should not be overshadowed; the problems in the working life of tradespeople must be resolved quickly, and our citizens should complete 2025 in peace and security.”