DİSK makes a move on working hours and minimum wage: Arzu Çerkezoğlu speaks to 12punto

Hikmet Eren Çelenk

The President of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), Arzu Çerkezoğlu, evaluated the debates on the upcoming minimum wage hike at the start of the year and the claims that working hours will be reduced for 12punto.

'IT SHOULD BE ADJUSTED FOUR TIMES A YEAR'

Stating that the minimum wage is not suitable for humane conditions, Çerkezoğlu said, "In a period with such high cost of living, an attempt is being made to turn Turkey into a minimum wage society. We are talking about a minimum wage that is left below even the hunger threshold, let alone the poverty threshold. In such a process, we as DİSK believe that the minimum wage should be adjusted four times a year until inflation falls to single digits. The minimum wage had to be revised in July for the past two years. However, they are not doing this in 2024. People will continue to try to get by on 17 thousand 2 liras until January," she said.

'WE WILL NOT ACCEPT 20 PERCENT'

Responding to claims that the minimum wage will see a 20 percent increase in the negotiations to be held in January, Arzu Çerkezoğlu said the following:

"20 percent is being discussed for the January raise. It is impossible for us to accept this. In a period where such high inflation is experienced, purchasing power has fallen so much, and millions have become impoverished, the minimum wage must definitely be revised within the year. The raise to be made in January must also be determined as a wage that a person can live on with their family, in accordance with all international standards. The misery caused by inflation must be eliminated, and it must be brought to levels where one can live humanely, because the minimum wage is a matter for millions, it is a national issue."

'WE WILL ANNOUNCE OUR MINIMUM WAGE EXPECTATIONS IN DECEMBER'

When we asked President Arzu Çerkezoğlu about DİSK's expectations regarding minimum wage efforts, she said, "As DİSK, we publish a very comprehensive study every year in December and share it with the entire public. We try to compensate for the real loss of the minimum wage throughout the year by considering the basic parameters. We continue our work on the necessity of determining it as a wage that a worker can live on with their family, in accordance with international conventions. We will also report our demands regarding the figure within December, calculating them based on concrete and scientific data. The hunger threshold has approached 20 thousand liras, and the poverty threshold has approached 65 thousand liras. How many households have an income of over 65 thousand liras today? The fundamental issue is in the distribution; we need policies that will change this distribution system."

'THE GOVERNMENT IS PREPARING THE PUBLIC FOR FLEXIBLE WORKING HOURS'

Claiming that there are manipulative approaches regarding the initiatives launched for flexible working hours, Arzu Çerkezoğlu spoke about the efforts as follows:

"When we examine flexible working in all of the government's basic approaches, policies, and the medium-term program, the government's main goal is to increase flexible working hours. Making life flexible is the government's policy, but precarious work and flexible work are already very common in Turkey. On the contrary, we need to increase registered, secure employment. We need to transition to an economic policy that will create this. The lack of this lies at the root of the problems we are experiencing. Now, the government is spreading extremely manipulative information that working hours will be reduced; we see this in the press."

'IT SHOULD BE 37.5 HOURS WEEKLY'

Explaining her expectations regarding weekly working hours, Arzu Çerkezoğlu said, "Turkey is among the countries that work the most on a weekly basis; the weekly working hour is 45 hours, but our average working hours are much higher than this. Steps must be taken to reduce working hours in Turkey. Despite being a country that works so long, the share we receive from the value we produce is constantly decreasing. Working hours in Turkey should be reduced to 37.5 hours per week without any loss of income. Saying that it will be reduced to 40 hours now is nothing more than the legitimization of flexible working hours. These are statements made to popularize flexible working," she said.

Stating that the ministry did not consult them regarding flexible working hours, Arzu Çerkezoğlu made the following statements: "There was no negotiation with us, trade unions, or NGOs on such an important issue. This is nothing more than creating a perception in the public to popularize flexible working. This is not something that can be accepted. We have a population of 65 million in the working age, but only one-third of them are seen as secure employees. It is imperative to build a system where people's rights and labor are not exploited."