While the minimum wage in Turkey, which is the country with the most workers working 45 hours per week among European and OECD countries, is 3.5 euros, this figure corresponds to 15 euros in Germany.
Even though Turkish people work hard, they are also victims of income distribution injustice.
According to TURKSTAT's income distribution data for 2023, the share of the richest 20 percent in national income increased by 1.8 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 49.8 percent, while the share of the poorest 20 percent in national income increased by 5 percent. It remained at .9.
As the economic crisis deepens, it has become a matter of debate whether employees, whose burdens are increasing, are getting paid for their efforts.
The share of employees in national income in Turkey, which is the country with the most weekly workers among European and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, is only 24 percent.
So much so that while the hourly minimum wage in Turkey is 3.5 euros, in Germany this figure corresponds to 15 euros.
It is unknown when the deplorable situation of the employees, who have been bearing the burden of the Turkish economy for years due to inflation, exorbitant prices, taxes and the crisis, will improve.
On the other hand, the richest 20 percent of our country adds to their income.
According to the income distribution data published by TURKSTAT for 2023, the share of the richest 20 percent in the national income increased by 1.8 compared to the previous year, reaching 49.8 percent. Accordingly, Türkiye ranks first in Europe in terms of income inequality.
WE ARE THE COUNTRY THAT WORKS THE HARDEST AMONG EUROPEAN AND OECD COUNTRIES
According to the Labor Law in force, weekly working hours in Turkey are 45 hours. However, according to 2023 data from the European Statistical Office Eurostat, it was revealed that 27.2 percent of the workforce in Turkey works 49 hours or more per week.
While the average weekly working time in OECD member countries is 37 hours, this figure is 36.4 hours in Europe. In Turkey, one of the hardest-working countries in the world, 27 percent of the workforce works 49 hours or more.
Despite all this effort, according to the research conducted by TURKSTAT in 2023, it was revealed that two of Turkey's three biggest problems are financial related.
According to the research, the biggest problem of our country is the cost of living with 33.8 percent, while education ranked second with 16.5 percent and poverty ranked third with 13.4 percent.
THE POOR IS GETTING POORER AND THE RICH IS ADDING WEALTH TO HIS WEALTH
According to official data published in April, the number of people employed in Turkey is 32 million 263 thousand people. In our country, the share of employees in national income was determined as 24 percent.
It is known that while the share of national income received by employees in OECD countries is around 55-60 percent, in Europe this rate is around 65-70 percent.
While working people shoulder the economic problems and struggle with inflation, taxes, high cost of living and many other problems, the richest 20 percent of Turkey continues to get richer.
According to 2023 data of TURKSTAT, which reveals income inequality in Turkey, the share of the richest 20 percent in national income increased by 1.8 compared to the previous year, reaching 49.8 percent. On the other hand, the share of the poorest 20 percent of Turkey in national income remained at 5.9 percent.