Turkey to extend coronavirus wage supports by a month

Turkey will extend a wage support system for one month to continue offsetting fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and related lockdowns, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday. He said 18 billion lira ($2.6 billion) had been disbursed so far under the two programmes. The so-called short labour pay - which partially covers wages of formally-employed workers whose hours are cut - will extend into July.

Turkey will extend a wage support system for one month to continue offsetting fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and related lockdowns, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday. Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Erdogan said cash aid to low-income families would also be extended for a month. He said 18 billion lira ($2.6 billion) had been disbursed so far under the two programmes.

The so-called short labour pay - which partially covers wages of formally-employed workers whose hours are cut - will extend into July. It came into effect in March shortly after the first COVID-19 case was identified in Turkey. Some officials in tourism and other sectors had said the system should be extended by another three months. ($1 = 6.8545 liras)