Berova: Cost-of-Living Adjustment to Continue Twice a Year

Speaking on the "Sabah Postası" program hosted by Gökhan Altıner on Kıbrıs Postası TV, Berova denied claims that the consolidated application on the salaries of public employees, retirees, and social security pensioners would be removed. He stressed that the government has not abandoned the COLA system, refuting misinformation that creates public misunderstanding.

“There are misleading statements aimed at creating confusion, making the issue more difficult to comprehend. The years 2023 and 2024 have been marked by high inflation. Prime Minister Ünal Üstel has instructed the creation of a wage policy tailored to lower-income groups under these conditions,” said Berova.

The minister highlighted that the government introduced COLA three times in 2024 and designed a system where each adjustment builds upon the previous one, akin to compound interest. He underlined the importance of government efforts in this area while acknowledging that high inflation complicates efforts to curb cost-of-living increases.

Looking ahead to 2025, Berova stated, “It’s time to share concrete figures. For 2025, we anticipate an inflation rate 40% lower than this year. Our message to the market is clear: we are setting forward a predictable economic parameter.”

Berova categorically denied allegations that the government has abandoned COLA, saying, “This is absolutely not true. We have clearly stated that COLA will be implemented three times in 2024 for a year. Despite this, some individuals deliberately spread false and manipulative claims, suggesting that the frequency was reduced from three times a year to two.”

He also responded to statements made by Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Devrim Barçın, accusing Barçın of making unfounded and misleading remarks in parliament without considering the impact on public sentiment. “Politics should not be conducted in this manner,” he added.

Berova reiterated that COLA will continue to be implemented twice a year, with adjustments made based on data from the Statistics Institution at the end of the year. He also assured the public that the policy would remain in place in 2025.