Workers’, employers’ representatives to take part in minimum wage reform
WORKERS’ and employers’ representatives have been invited to put forward their views for reform of the country’s minimum wage system.
Labour and Social Security Minister Zeki Çeler issued the call to take part in a consultation process after fresh reactions by trades union over the new minimum wage announced last week.
The 15-member Minimum Wage Commission decided to increase the pay threshold from 2,175TL monthly to 2,365TL, but criticism was aired over the fact that the lowest-paid workers have no direct representation on the body.
Mr Çeler acknowledged last week that the way the minimum wage level is determined was not right. He said private sector workers should also have a stake in the commission and vowed to take action to that end.
Under the existing structure, the commission consists of five government officials, five employer representatives and five members of the trade union with the greatest number of members — which is the public sector union, Hür-İş.
Mr Çeler’s ministry followed up with a statement saying the system for deciding the minimum wage would be changed. It called on all sides to express views and proposals in writing by Friday, April 6, by emailing the ministry on csgbinfo@yahoo.com.
Unhappiness at the new minimum wage figure continues to be voiced, with Türk-Sen trades union federation head Arslan Bıçaklı saying he had lodged a written objection at the Minimum Wage Commission calling for it to be reconsidered.
Güven Bengihan, secretary-general of the Ktams trade union, called the amount “unacceptable”, saying it “does not allow any worker to afford even a basic living”.
Şener Elcil, general secretary of the Ktös teachers’ union, argued that the economy and current minimum wage system were “a continuation of the policies imposed . . . by Turkey” which he claimed were aimed at “impoverishing” people in North Cyprus.