TÜRK-İŞ announces minimum wage demand as 29,583 TL

TÜRK-İŞ President Ergün Atalay has announced their expectations for the 2025 minimum wage. Stating that the union's expectation is 29 thousand 583 liras, Atalay expressed that they would not sign a decision below this figure.

The Minimum Wage Determination Commission held its first meeting on December 10, its second on December 16, and its third meeting today.

At the meeting, the employer side was represented by the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK), while the worker side was represented by TÜRK-İŞ, as it is the confederation with the highest number of members.

TÜRK-İŞ President Ergün Atalay is making statements. Highlights from Atalay's speech are as follows:

"In the past, there were unionists at the table. We had a meeting 15 days ago. We also had a meeting last Friday. However, unfortunately, news about us is circulating in the public sphere. Demands like 'announce a figure.' They are asking, 'Why isn't TÜRK-İŞ announcing a figure?' during this 20-day period.

There is an anti-democratic minimum wage structure. There are other unions besides us. Before coming here, I also spoke with the DİSK President. Mr. Ramazan attends our meetings. We expected a figure at the 3rd meeting regarding the minimum wage.

2024 was a difficult year for everyone. 2023 was the same. Right now, we are going to talk about the minimum wage. Many people in the public sector receive the minimum wage. Five years ago, the minimum wage was a base wage. Now, the minimum wage has become a living wage for us. The employer and the government make the decision here. We held a rally in Ankara a month ago, and we promised the minimum wage earners and retirees there, 'Come and tell us your troubles.' They told us what their situation is.

Now, the rent, natural gas, fruit and vegetable prices, and living conditions are obvious here. The minimum wage was determined 1 year ago. However, the minimum wage has now become a living wage. We were hoping that this issue would be resolved today.

Our representatives who attended the meeting explained the situation to us. The public is also expecting a figure from us. Now, the parties concerned are here. If you want, ask them too. I told them, 'Whatever you want, whatever your situation is, go and explain it in the commission.' Then, we said, 'State a figure and we will announce it to the public.' The reason we haven't announced it until today was that we were waiting for the employer and the government to announce it.

Everyone is giving a figure. I have many figures in my hand. I see all of them; everyone knows the truth and the state of the public. Mr. Mehmet Şimşek says, 'the situation is improving.' If it is improving, then announce a good minimum wage so that the people can be at ease.

We are not making this decision on our own. Our friends who are suffering are the ones making this decision.

Dear friends, the purchasing power of retirees, minimum wage earners, and public workers has all declined. Discrediting unionists and workers here does not benefit anyone.

MINIMUM WAGE EXPECTATION

The minimum wage expectation written in the envelope I received is 29,583 TL.

If they offer this, we will sign; if they don't, we will not sign."

News Source: 12punto