Within the scope of the program:

The three insurance funds, namely SSK, Emekli Sandigi and Bag-Kur, were merged under a sole body called the Social Security Institution (SSI) in 2007. The three insurance funds together cover around 81% of the population as of 2008. The system started to be fully operational at the beginning of 2008.

Social security premiums (as a percentage of employee's gross earnings) are payable by both employers and employees. The below table shows the rates that apply in the case of office employees in the private sector. Rates for employees working in specific sectors (such as mining, oil/gas exploration) may vary depending on the risk category of the work performed.
 

Employees, employers and the state are required to make a compulsory contribution to the Unemployment Insurance Plan at the rates of 1%, 2% and 1%, respectively, of the gross salary of the employee. Like the social security premium payments, unemployment insurance premiums are also to be paid on a monthly basis. Employers are able to deduct such contributions from their taxable income. On the other hand, an employee’s contributions are deductible from the income tax base of the employee.

A foreign individual who remains covered under the compulsory social security system of his/her home country that has a social security agreement in effect with Turkey is not liable for insurance payments to the Turkish social security. The proof of foreign coverage is to be filed with the local social security office. If the employee is not subject to a foreign social security, full contributions would generally be imposed. Unemployment insurance premiums are declared and paid to the Social Security Institution together with social security premium contributions.

Turkey's loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will help the country manage costs and maintain efficiency. In addition, the EU accession period and Turkey’s efforts to comply with the EU regulations will also make positive contributions to the reform program.