Hans continues to be insanely jealous of Hasan

Every time a new year arrives, people enter it with the hope of a fresh start. However, this year did not feel very new. It feels like a continuation of the old one, picking up right where it left off. 

Price hikes are continuing right where they left off. In the first days of the new year, everything from A to Z has seen price increases. 

For example, bread prices in Ankara went up yesterday. As if to spite the 30 percent minimum wage hike, it was increased by 25 percent. The price of a 200-gram loaf of bread rose from 10 liras to 12.5 liras. 

In the food and beverage sector, especially in restaurants, almost every item has been subject to price hikes. 

For instance, the coffee chain Starbucks implemented a 36 percent hike. We will now be drinking a large coffee for 185 liras. 

Speaking of beverages, alcoholic drinks also saw major price hikes. The cheapest beer is now 80 liras. The special consumption tax (ÖTV) on alcoholic beverages and tobacco products will once again break the backs of those who enjoy a drink in the evening. 

And there are more transportation hikes and fuel hikes just around the corner…

In other words, nothing has changed for the better in the lives of workers and retirees in the new year. According to this calculation, the 30 percent minimum wage hike has already melted away before the first salaries have even been received. 

And this is despite the fact that we are the country with the longest working hours in Europe. The EU Statistical Office, Eurostat, has announced the longest average weekly working hours in Europe.

Turkey is at the top of Europe with 44.2 hours per week. The European Union (EU) average is 36.1 hours. Moreover, 27.2 percent of the workforce in Turkey works more than 49 hours. 

Germany, which is supposedly insanely jealous of us, Austria, and the Netherlands have the shortest average weekly working hours at 34, 33.6, and 32.2 hours, respectively. 

In Germany, which is third on the list, the minimum wage has been raised to 12 euros and 82 cents. This means that Hans, who works an average of 34 hours a week, earns 435.88 euros per week. 

We don't have an hourly calculation, but if we calculate the monthly minimum wage of 22 thousand 104 liras on a weekly basis, it comes out to 5,526 liras. So, while Hans works 34 hours a week and earns 435.88 euros, Hasan works 44.2 hours and earns 151.52 euros per week. Almost one-fourth of it… 

What did we say? Nothing has changed in the new year; Hans is still insanely jealous of Hasan!