Turkey will extend a wage support system for one month to continue offsetting fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and related lockdowns, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Monday, Reuters reported.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting Erdoğan 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 programs.
The so-called short labor 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.