Bülbül: An image is being created as if unions and organizations are conducting major negotiations and resisting for the minimum wage

Gizem Yaralı-12punto

The minimum wage issue in Turkey is actually a serious problem. Even during the Mustafa Kemal Atatürk era, the minimum wage was renewed every 3 months, whereas today, the minimum wage renewal is done every 6 months, and according to the President's latest statement, a signal has been given that the minimum wage increase will no longer be every 6 months but once a year. In fact, how the minimum wage is determined is very important. Because in previous minimum wage applications, they removed the special deduction, and NGOs and unions did not show the necessary sensitivity to the fact that the special deduction was removed. Because this was a very serious and significant loss, and they loaded the amount in this special deduction as if it had been discussed with the minimum wage. The other problem is this: today the minimum wage is around 11,400 TL. If we look at inflationary conditions, or the budget deficit, or the increase in the global budget, different figures emerge. When the minimum wage is determined, the individual is determined, not the family. It is seen that the family in Turkey is shrinking and the number of people in the family corresponds to 3 to 3.5. A concept of a 3.5-person family is emerging. Today, the Turkish family is shrinking more and more. Now, when we look at it from this perspective, we see that the AKP government has been basing it on the individual for years, not the family, and this creates a serious question in the determination of the minimum wage. Previously, the lowest civil servant salary would be below the minimum wage; currently, the lowest civil servant salary is around 22 thousand. The minimum wage should be above this at least once. Previously, when the minimum wage increased, a salary difference was received for the lowest civil servant salary, but unfortunately, in recent years, the minimum wage has eroded and has come to correspond to almost 50% of the civil servant salary. That is a problem in itself.

Approximately 70% of the population makes a living on the minimum wage, and impoverishment has become a fundamental policy. When we look at it from this perspective, the minimum wage should be around 33 thousand. If we base it on the 2024 budget increase and the global budget increase, the minimum wage should be approximately 20,800 TL. If we base it on the increase in personnel payments in the budget, the minimum wage should be 34,200 TL. If we base it on inflation, inflation is around 150%, which is the real inflation. If we look at this, then the minimum wage should be 28,500 TL.

WHY IS THE ANNOUNCEMENT SPECIFICALLY DELAYED?

Why is the minimum wage increase announcement being delayed? An image is being created as if major negotiations are being held between the political power and the unions and organizations, and as if the unions and such are resisting very strongly. The unions currently in the negotiations are acting opportunistically. They are actually betraying the wages; despite the fact that the wages have been clear from the beginning, they are creating an image as if very serious negotiations are being held, which is a huge betrayal. It is playing with the dignity of 70% of the people. The unions are also committing a crime in this sense and are working in cooperation with the government in this regard. I know that the figure in their minds right now is around 16,000.

THE DIGNITY AND HONOR OF 70% OF THE POPULATION ARE BEING PLAYED WITH

Minimum wage negotiations have lost their seriousness. The minutes of what was discussed and what preparations were made in the Minimum Wage Determination Commission should be disclosed to the public. In fact, when you pay attention, we see that sometimes the Minister and sometimes the high-level representatives of the union are not present in very important negotiations, and sometimes lower-level bureaucrats bring the proposals. This implies that the minimum wage is not taken seriously. In fact, some union presidents making statements like "The minimum wage should be at the hunger threshold" right from the start shows that the minimum wage issue, which concerns 70% of the population, is no longer taken seriously by the political power and the groups that make up this Minimum Wage Determination Commission, and that this situation is being carried out in a careless manner. This would be playing with the dignity and honor of these people. In this sense, minimum wage negotiations should now be taken out of the hands of the political power and these groups, and a more independent method should be established and a more independent system should be followed. Because the event we call the minimum wage has now lost its validity.