The partner's preference is different! BBP leader Destici reacts to the minimum wage: Inflation must be reflected

The agenda of BBP Chairman Mustafa Destici, one of the partners of the People's Alliance, was the minimum wage hike, just like for millions of citizens.

Finding the new minimum wage, which rose to 22,104 liras with a 30 percent hike, insufficient, Destici argued that the inflation rate at the end of December 2024 should be reflected in the minimum wage.

Stating, "This revision must absolutely, definitely be made," Destici explained his minimum wage proposal as, "It should be increased by at least 50 percent to the 25,000 lira level."

PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN CLOSES THE DOOR ON WELFARE SHARE EXPECTATIONS

The fact that the new minimum wage amount announced yesterday by Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan was not published in the Official Gazette had strengthened the views that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would make a touch on this issue.

Speaking at the Turkish Grand National Assembly today, Erdoğan put an end to all discussions regarding welfare share expectations. Erdoğan said, "We have once again remained loyal to our promise not to let our employees be crushed by inflation. I wish the new minimum wage to be beneficial to employees and employers."

DESTİCİ: A 30 PERCENT HIKE IS, TO PUT IT MILDLY, UNFAIR, UNJUST, AND INSUFFICIENT

BBP Chairman Mustafa Destici spoke at the weekly press conference held at the party headquarters.

Stating that he is struggling with economic problems that are a reflection of developments over the last 10 years, Destici used the following expressions:

"In every similar condition, we have pointed out the necessity for the state to protect the lower-income groups of our nation during crisis periods. The income order of lower-income groups needs to be raised. In other words, income needs to be spread downwards. It needs to be distributed in a fair manner. But unfortunately, I express with sadness that we cannot see this at the point we have reached today. Look, today we are talking about the minimum wage, civil servant and retiree salaries before the new year. The annual inflation at the end of November was 47 percent. In a period where the salaries of all employees and retirees have increased or will increase by approximately this rate, and again where a 60 percent hike has been made to rents, increasing the minimum wage by 30 percent is, to put it mildly, unfair, unjust, and insufficient. This rate has not met the expectations of our brothers and sisters who have to live on the minimum wage.

No one gives loans or credit to a minimum wage earner either. Now, how will this person pay their rent? How will they buy food products for their home and their child? In short, how will they close this 4,396 lira gap? Now, this is a great injustice, unfairness, and lack of equity. At the very least, whatever the inflation rate was at the end of December 2024, it should be reflected in the minimum wage, and the minimum wage should be increased by at least 50 percent to the 25,000 lira level. This revision must absolutely, definitely be made."