With the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) fulfilling the promises in its election manifesto, these include a new law package to be offered to Parliament that will wipe out TL 9 billion ($3.15 billion) of premium debts of five million young people. If this latest law package receives parliamentary approval, 55 percent of the AK Party's reforms and 98 percent of its promises will have been fulfilled. The debt cancelation in the new law package will go toward the general health insurance premium debts of five million young people aged between 18 and 29, who are neither university students nor employed. The law package will remove the bureaucratic red tape around general health insurance premiums and income tests. It will also eliminate the household income criterion for old-age pensions for those aged over 65. The law package stipulates that one-third of minimum wage will be paid to those who serve compulsory internships at vocational high schools, vocational schools of higher education and universities. Apprenticeships will be considered compulsory education. The state will also be able to assign trustees to companies in order to wage a better fight against the financing of terrorism. Regulations in the new law package include:
- Students studying at vocational high schools, vocational schools of higher education and universities will be encouraged to enter into internship. One-third of minimum wage, TL 433, will be paid to trainees. This wage will be jointly covered by the state and employers. All trainees will have insurance and will pay no fees for health services.
