Before the Minimum Wage Determination Commission meeting, everyone's eyes were turned to the minimum wage to be determined. While the bad course in the economy, which started with the pandemic, continues with the upward movement of inflation figures, it continues with the decrease in the purchasing power of minimum wage workers. Eyes are on the Minimum Wage Determination Commission that will meet in December. Unions, on the other hand, continue to share their views on the minimum wage with the public.
“THE MINIMUM WAGE IS TALKED, THE PRICES OF PRODUCTS INCREASE”
Speaking about the determination of the minimum wage, Türk-İş Confederation Chairman Ergün Atalay stated that the talk about the minimum wage before the meetings started was not correct, and said, “Is the minimum wage discussed 6 months before, 5 months before? Are we selling hope? Will we sell labor? 5 months left, everyone is talking, authorized unauthorized. What's the use of talking? Do you know what happens when you talk? There are some cruel employers, vendors and manufacturers. When the word minimum wage comes up, it's time to raise they keep going. Regardless of the opposition or power, when the minimum wage is talked about, raises continue to rise in eggs, cheese, meat and milk. I'll go out and talk about the minimum wage when the negotiations start. Why should I talk now?” Atalay pointed out that the system is not fair and sustainable regarding the income tax of workers.
“WE WILL SUPPORT IF THE REQUEST COMES”
Reminding that Hak-İş Confederation participated in the studies in line with the demands of joint work despite not being a principal member of the Minimum Wage Determination Commission in the past years, Hak-İş Confederation Chairman Mahmut Arslan stated that they would support if there is a demand again, and said, “As Hak-İş Confederation, our principles on minimum wage obvious in the middle. In the light of these principles, we will share it with the public when our detailed studies on minimum wage are completed in the coming days. But at the moment, there is no figure that we have determined in the minimum wage commission. We know that the minimum wage in Turkey is different from the minimum wage in developed western countries. There is an exceptional fee. In Turkey, the minimum wage is Turkey's largest collective bargaining agreement. Nearly fifty percent of the employees work for the minimum wage. This figure is approaching 6 and a half, 7 million. Therefore, the determination of the minimum wage concerns a significant part of Turkey. I believe that this is in a tripartite structure within the framework of mutual reconciliation by both the employer and the employee, and I would like to express our determination to determine the minimum wage by putting all of these facts, high inflation, the high cost of living we experience, together.”