While Türk-İş Confederation, representing the employees, was not present at the meeting, where the minimum wage was announced, the decision on the minimum wage was determined by the agreement between the government and Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK). The minimum wage amount for 2023 was announced as 8,506 Turkish Liras (TL) with an increase of 54,66 percent.
President Erdoğan held a press conference at the Presidential Complex with the participation of Vedat Bilgin, Minister of Labor and Social Security, and Özgür Burak Akkol, Chairman of the Turkish Confederation of Employers (TİSK), to announce the minimum wage to be applied in 2023. While Türk-İş Confederation, representing the employees, was not present at the press conference, it did not sign the agreement. At the press conference, President Erdoğan pointed out that no agreement could be reached on a common figure as a result of the meetings held, and said, “We do not allow the rights of the workers to be defeated, nor the employers to bear the burden they cannot handle. We have made sincere efforts to reach a reasonable compromise. We would like employee representatives to be among us. There have been many minimum wage negotiations concluded by the government in the past years. This time, we did it too.”
“WE ARE DETERMINED TO REDUCE INFLATION TO 20 PERCENT BY THE END OF THE YEAR”
Stating that they achieved an average increase of 80 percent in 2022, Erdoğan said, “We included as much as the minimum wage part of all incomes in the exemption part. The increase in inflation during the year led to an increase in the minimum wage to 5,500 TL. We have the large wicker basket of this state on our backs. We achieved an average of 80 percent, cumulative 95 percent increase in minimum wage throughout the year. Those who don't have a large wicker basket on their back speak. Because they do not have problem. Our country, which has a population of 85 million, is expected to increase by more than 1 million this year. It is possible to exceed 86 million. This month, we will witness a rapid decline in inflation. We are determined to reduce it to 30 percent in the middle of the year and 20 percent at the end of the year.”
NET MINIMUM WAGE 8,506 TL 80 KURUS
Emphasizing that they aim to take a compensation decision for losses with the new minimum wage, Erdoğan gave the message that they can also make an interim arrangement if necessary and said, “We have agreed on 8,500 TL in net for 2023. There will be an increase of 84 percent compared to January and 54,5 percent compared to July.” According to the information note passed by the Presidency, the gross minimum wage to be applied in 2023 was 10,008 TL, and the net minimum wage was 8,506 TL 80 kurus. Accordingly, the increase was 100 percent compared to January 2022 and 54,66 percent compared to July 2022.
“THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO FIND IT LOW”
Speaking after President Erdoğan at the meeting, TİSK Chairman Özgür Burak Akkol stated that they left behind a long and difficult process and said: “TİSK had three priorities in this process. The first of these is the sustainable welfare of our country; second, the protection of our colleagues against inflation; the third is to increase production and employment by keeping our businesses and producers alive and continuity was ensured. There will be those who find the wage announced today low, there will be those who find it high, there will be those who find it balanced and reasonable. As we always say, the minimum wage is a base wage. It should be reasonable, our goal should be to raise the average wage together.”