Özgür Özel calls on the government regarding the minimum wage

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel visited DİSK and made significant statements regarding the minimum wage. Özel emphasized that despite the minimum wage being raised to 22 thousand liras, it lost value in a short time, and he stressed the necessity of an interim raise in July. Özel stated that otherwise, the next six months would be worse than the previous year.

Özel said, "In Turkey, the minimum wage did not see an increase for a whole year. The government had said before the election that in an inflationary environment, raises could be made four times a year. However, after the election, they turned their backs on the laborers." Stating that the inflation figures announced by TUIK do not reflect the reality, Özel expressed that this situation has reduced the purchasing power of employees and led to shortages at the dinner table.

Inviting all workers to join unions, Özel said that the labor of non-unionized workers is being exploited and that they are condemned to the minimum wage. "In Turkey, the minimum wage has now become the base wage," said Özel, noting that the rightful demands of workers must be defended on a democratic platform.

Reminding that all political parties had voiced demands for a minimum wage increase in the past, Özel said that as the CHP, they aim to make decisions in cooperation with unions. Özel stated that if the government does not implement an interim raise in July, it would be political suicide, and he noted that the laborers would not forgive this situation.

News Source: 12punto