The presidential announcement came during a press conference on Wednesday about the popular political move, Reuters reported.
Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) last week raised a sharp increase in the minimum wage as part of a campaign to restore support that has been eroded by inflation, the fall of the lira and a sharp drop in living standards.
Previously, the retirement age was 58 for women and 60 for men. It is not yet clear how much the new system will cost, but Erdogan said 2.25 million people are eligible to retire immediately. There are currently 13.9 million retirees in Turkey.
Labor groups have been protesting the minimum age requirement for several years, requiring instead that workers only be required to complete the mandatory number of work days to retire. The move is seen as giving Erdogan a boost ahead of crucial elections scheduled for June.
MI