Ali Babacan announces minimum wage proposal! 'Minimum wage earners are owed from last year'

Speaking at the group meeting of the New Way Party, which consists of deputies from the Felicity, Future, and DEVA parties in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, DEVA leader Ali Babacan made evaluations regarding the work being carried out for the 2026 minimum wage.

"MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS ARE OWED FROM LAST YEAR"

Babacan stated, "At the beginning of 2025, the minimum wage was determined for the first time not based on the actual inflation rate that people experienced, but on the expected inflation rate. What we call the 'expected inflation rate' is a forecast put forward by the government. While our workers' right arising from inflation was around 45 percent, only a 30 percent increase was made this year. Our minimum wage earners are owed 15 percent from last year. After the November inflation figures announced just now, it is now certain that this year's inflation will also be around 30 percent. 15 plus 30 equals 45. Economic growth was announced on Monday. Because of this growth, our minimum wage earners are also owed a share of prosperity; at least 5 percent should come from there as well. The calculation thus comes to 50 percent. Any calculation made outside of this creates a violation of rights. In other words, the increase in the minimum wage must be at least 50 percent."