What needs to be discussed regarding the minimum wage

On December 12,the minimum wage commission will meet. When looking at thepercentages and figures circulatingin the public domain,one sees a shameless system ofexploitation and a desperateacceptance.I see.

The proposals from the government and the employer side regarding minimumwage increases, the thesis that the minimum wageshould be 60 percent of the averageper capita income,and according to ENAG inflationI have prepareda chart showing the minimum wagescenarios thatshould be discussed.According tothis, the year 2026for the yearthe minimum wage could range between 27,000and 29,000 liras. However, the fair level that should be reached is 43,386 liras according to one calculation,and according toanother calculation,it is 90,650 liras... Now, let us discuss the scenarios in this chart.

ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYERS

The economic management has a thesis. Let minimum wage increases be in line with next year's inflation expectations. According to thAccording to the 2026 year inflation target of yearly 16 percent. But with a 3-pointdeviation, they say itcould be 19 percent.

The discussedminimum wage hikeThepercentages are clear... The target inflation for 2026is16 percent. They say there might be a 20 percent minimum wage increase.Some businessmen who appearconscientiousare talking about25 percent. This amounts to 27,675 liras. Let's add a little gesture, at least for the sake of the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK).They say let's apply a raise equal to the 30 percent inflation that the government will announce, and make it 28,735 liras. All of these are levels below the hunger threshold...

The Central Bank and theLet us also remind you that none of the government's inflationforecasts to date have held true. First of all, thereal inflation weare experiencing versus the onemeasured by TÜİK.between inflation andthere is a world of difference. Thegraph showing TÜİK and ENAG inflationclearly shows how labor incomeis being evaporated very clearly.

THE MINIMUM WAGE THAT SHOULD BE ACCORDING TO ENAGT HE

INcreases in minimum wage and pension payments made according to TÜİK's calculations, shows that 75 percent of thereal income of the workingclass and retirees has evaporated.This calculationis based on the periodfrom January 2020, when ENAG began measuring inflation,to the present day.based on the period up to today.I made.

I took the general price level at the beginning of January 2020 as 100 and arrived at todayusing theENAG inflation that occurred each year.By the end of November 2025, theENAG index value, according to my calculations,reached 3911.etc. (ENAG doesnotprovide index values in its statements. I calculated this data cumulatively by taking each year's inflation.)

In this case, the net minimum wage of 2,325 liras in January 2020 should have a currentvalue of 90,650 liras. The current minimum wage of 22,104 liras is only afraction of this amount25 percent of it... Inother words, the minimum wage earner's purchasing power compared to January 2020has evaporated by 75 percent andgone into the pockets of the bosses. Todabecause 22,104 liras has only the purchasing power of581 liras from the year 2020.However, even in January 2020, minimum wage earnerswere not satisfied with 2,325 liras. Today,the situation has deterioratedmuch further. The area remaining in between on the graphrepresents the net income loss of wage earners and retireesinshows. According to this calculation, the 22 thousand liraminimum wage needs to increase by 310 percent.

IF WE BASE IT ON PER CAPITA NATIONAL INCOME

Let us also remind you that the minimum wage has become the average wage in Turkey.In Europe In their countries, those earning the minimum wage account forbetween 4 and 9 percent ofthe workforce. Moreover, this wage is not long-term,as their wages increase after a shortperiod. However, in Turkey, nearly60 percent ofthe workforceearns the minimum receives a wage. Furthermore, it is not just a starting wage, but it remains at these levels almost until retirement.

I value the opinions of academic Prof. Dr. Aziz on labor life issues. Çelik states that the minimum wage in Turkey is not determined by rules, but by the whim of the government. Aziz Çelik notes that the minimum wage is not determined by inflation, but by living conditions and the eshould be determined according to growthhe suggests. that it

Prof. Dr. Aziz Çelik states that between 1999, 2004, and 2016, the minimumwage was 60 percent of theaverage per capitaincome.that it is as much as, and in 2025 this ratedeclined to 43 percenthe says.For the year 2026the minimum wageshould be at least the 2026year-end income target of60 percent.that it should be as much as suggests.

Thatper capitanationalincome, 60percentof it should be if we go by... for the year 2025our percapitaincome was announced as 17 thousand dollars.Theaverage dollar exchange rate is 39.63 lira. If we proceed from here, for the year 2025the requiredminimum wage the wage should have been33,685 liras per month. For the year 2025,the 22,104 lirawage is only65 percentof this amount. They took 35 percent of the wage from the laborerand gave it to the employer.

For the year 2026,the projected per capitaaverage national income is 18,621 dollars, and the projected average dollar exchange rate is 46.60 liras... In this case, theminimum wage that should be is at least 43,386 liras. This means that the 22,000 liraminimum wage is not even at the 30 percent levelnotan increase of up to 96 percentshows that it should beimplemented.

I know these levels will notbe reached. But how much labor isbeing exploitedis clear.Let these calculations remain here for the record.