New 'minimum wage' statement from Minister Işıkhan

The end is approaching in the minimum wage increase, which has remained on the agenda for months as purchasing power erodes day by day.

Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan, in response to persistent questions from journalists, said, "We are starting the process regarding the minimum wage on Tuesday; our priority agenda is the minimum wage."

In the minimum wage negotiations, which directly concern millions of employees and indirectly concern all of Turkey, the talks for the 2025 minimum wage will begin on Tuesday, December 10.

The Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ) will represent the workers, and the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK) will represent the employers. The first meeting of the Minimum Wage Determination Commission will be held at the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

HOW MUCH WILL THE MINIMUM WAGE BE?

Many data points will be taken into account when determining the minimum wage. Inflation and cost-of-living indices will be on the table. The wage to be determined will also affect items such as the severance pay base, unemployment benefits, and military and maternity debt restructuring.

The minimum wage is currently applied as 20 thousand 2 lira and 50 kuruş gross per month for one worker, and 17 thousand 2 lira and 12 kuruş net after taxes and deductions. The total cost of the minimum wage to the employer is 23 thousand 502 lira and 94 kuruş for one worker.

The increase in the minimum wage has an upward effect on all wages, especially those in workplaces where collective bargaining agreements are applied.

In addition to directly affecting employees who live on this wage, the minimum wage also concerns a large part of society as it is accepted as a benchmark in many legal regulations.

By law, the minimum wage is determined by the Minimum Wage Determination Commission, which consists of 15 people, with five representatives each from the workers, employers, and the government.

The commission is called to a meeting by the Minister of Labor and Social Security and, by tradition, meets four times in December as part of the efforts to determine the new minimum wage.

The commission, chaired by one of the members designated by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, meets with the participation of at least 10 members and makes decisions by majority vote.

In the event of a tie in votes, the side on which the commission chair is located is considered to have the majority.