Along with other changes, Social Security and General Health Insurance Law no 5510 contains significant amendments regarding old age pension.

Keskin Keskinoglu, executive of Keskinoglu Sirketler Grubu, which is ranked as a leading firm in the area of chicken meat and egg products, stated that after failing to achieve the expected positive development in EU market; Middle East market, Iraq being in the first place, became important for Turkey in the area of chicken meat and egg products export.

He asserted, "Our biggest competitors in export to Iraq are Brazil and USA.  Both countries are in a great competition in price. We are trying to channel Iraq's demands to Turkey. Ramadan is close and there will be an increase in chicken meat and egg products in Iraq. Realizing that, Brazil wants to take advantage of that increase and by this way, expand in Iraq market.  Producers in Turkey are working up to prevent Brazil's taking up the market leader position in Ramadan".

Keskinoğlu added: "Iraq market is of vital importance for Turkey at the present time.  Nearly 90% of egg export and 70% of chicken meat export is directed to this country. In the first five months of 2009, total chicken meat export reached 32 thousand tons and 26 thousand tons of that figures was directed to Iraq.  Total export for the year of 2009 is aimed to be 64 thousand tons."

Shorter working time is defined as temporarily shortening of weekly working time in an establishment by the employer at least at the portion of 1/3 or at least four weeks or temporarily suspending work wholly or partially. Shorter working time shall not exceed in any case three months.

In accordance with Law issued in Official Gazette no 2711 (repeated) dated 18 February 2009, exclusively for shorter working time applications made in 2008-2009, the maximum three months period envisaged for shorter working time can be applied as six months. On demand of the employer, the period can be exceeded to six months for the establishments who have applied for suitability evaluation before the provision was issued...