Union leader: Urgent need for new minimum wage

A NEW minimum wage should be set “urgently” a trade union leader said this week. Türk-Sen Chairman Arslan Bıçaklı called for the Minimum Wage Determination Commission to convene to adjust the minimum wage “in accordance with current conditions” and backdate the new amount to July 1.

The current gross monthly minimum wage of 4,400TL (3,828TL net) came into effect on February 1, 2021.

“The purchasing power of employees, retirees, and especially those working in the private sector for the minimum wage has decreased by almost 40 per cent during this period when foreign exchange rates are surging in the country and the government is constantly making price hikes on all consumer goods, especially on fuel,” he said.

“We are calling on those who claim to be the government, especially the Labour [and Social Security] Ministry, to do their duty and we want it to be known that we will follow up this issue.

“Because of what this government has done to workers as of late, they will reap what they sow in the next elections.”

Equal Rights and Justice Union head Eren Büyükoğlu said: “Despite the economic crisis in the country, the depreciation of the Turkish lira, the pandemic and the hikes, the minimum wage remains the same.”

He said the “definitive solution to this problem” is to peg the minimum wage to the lowest salary in the public sector.

“Private sector employees also have the right to live humanely,” Mr Büyükoğlu continued. “It is impossible for a minimum wage earner to live in this country when they are left to the will of the government, the [Minimum Wage Determination] Commission’s intention and the employers’ initiative.

“One of our union’s top priorities is to continue to fight to save the minimum wage earner from starvation and we will ramp up our demands for this until the end.”

Meanwhile Prime Minister Ersan Saner announced on Tuesday that public sector employees and those who are retired from the public sector will receive an 8.83 percent raise in their July salaries and pensions due to rising prices.

“One of our main goals is to first protect the purchasing power of our people and

then to increase it,” Mr Saner said in a statement.

“The State Planning Organisation announced the cost of living rate for the last six months as 8.83 percent.

“Therefore, our public employees and those who retired from the public sector will receive an increase of 8.83 percent with their July salaries.

“While our government continues its efforts to fulfill our state’s other financial obligations, we hope our private sector will be able to leave their problems behind them as soon as possible.”

Fuel prices rise for 4th time in 2 months, page 8