Paid Military Service Fees Decrease, Military Obligations Change

The bill, submitted by Speaker of the Republic Assembly and UBP Gazimağusa MP Resmiye Eroğlu CANALTAY, was published in the Official Gazette on January 29.

The bill introduces changes related to "military obligations" and "paid military service fees" for TRNC citizens who are also citizens of Turkey.

The public has twenty days from the publication date in the Official Gazette to submit their views and suggestions on the bill in writing to the Presidency of the Assembly.

The bill's general rationale highlights that the 2021 amendment to the Military Law aimed to prevent difficulties in paying the amount calculated based on the minimum wage for paid military service, due to currency fluctuations. However, with the current economic conditions, the increased cost of living due to inflation and the rising minimum wage have caused a "significant increase" in the amounts young people must pay for paid military service. Therefore, the bill aims to facilitate the payment of these fees.

The bill will be discussed in the Committee on Legal, Political Affairs, Foreign Relations, and Defense.

Military Obligation: Those Who Perform Military Service in Turkey Will Not Have the Right to Enter Public Service in TRNC

The bill amends Article 4 of the Military Law, reorganizing "Military Obligation."

Accordingly, every TRNC citizen is obliged to perform military service under this law. However, TRNC citizens who are also citizens of Turkey, born to Turkish Cypriot parents, and who fulfill their military obligations or exemption procedures in Turkey will be exempt from military obligations under this law. However, these individuals will not have the right to enter any public service in the TRNC.

Previously, TRNC Citizens Who Performed Military Service in Turkey Were Not Exempt from Military Obligations

Under the current law, TRNC citizens with dual citizenship who performed military service in Turkey were not exempt from military obligations.

This change aims to facilitate the entry of individuals who do not intend to settle in TRNC by exempting those who have fulfilled their military obligations or exemption procedures in Turkey from military service in TRNC.

Changes in Paid Military Service Fees: 5 Months Gross Minimum Wage or 4,000 Pounds

The bill also aims to alleviate the difficulties faced in paying the paid military service fees due to the increased minimum wage.

TRNC citizens who have earned the right to paid military service through a doctorate or four years of work after university abroad can fulfill their service obligation by paying an amount equivalent to five times the gross minimum wage or 4,000 pounds and serving for one month.

The proposed amendment to Article 17 (1) of the law allows TRNC citizens residing outside Turkey to fulfill their service obligation by paying 3,000 pounds or by paying 1,500 pounds and serving for one month. The current law requires these individuals to pay a fee equivalent to 4 to 7 times the minimum wage.

The proposed amendment to Article 17 (2) allows TRNC citizens who have earned the right to paid military service through a doctorate or four years of work after university abroad to fulfill their service obligation by paying an amount equivalent to five times the gross minimum wage or 4,000 pounds and serving for one month. The current law requires paying an amount equivalent to ten times the gross minimum wage for paid military service.

The proposal also includes some regulations for those who wish to make a definite return to TRNC.