Minister Işıkhan announces goal for minimum wage: 'As our President emphasized...'

The Tripartite Advisory Board, established to improve industrial peace and industrial relations and to monitor legislation and practices related to working life, met under the chairmanship of Minister Vedat Işıkhan with the agenda of "Social Dialogue in the Century of Turkey" after a 5-year hiatus.

According to the statement made by the Ministry, the meeting lasted 2.5 hours and brought together representatives from affiliated and relevant institutions, as well as the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ), the Confederation of Turkish Real Trade Unions (HAK-İŞ), the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), and the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK), depending on the agenda items.

Speaking at the meeting, Işıkhan expressed his deep indignation and condemned in the strongest terms the attacks that resulted in the deaths and injuries of hundreds of Palestinians, especially innocent children, the sick, and the wounded, following the targeting of a hospital in Gaza.

Reminding that the Tripartite Advisory Board last met in 2018 with the agenda of "Working Life," Işıkhan noted the following:

"As required by our understanding of social dialogue and consultation, we intend to operate our social dialogue mechanisms, such as the Tripartite Advisory Board, regularly in the coming period. Today, we are together again with the same intention to evaluate the problems and solution proposals regarding the working life agenda. In line with the demands from you, we can also determine sub-working groups if necessary."

Noting that they want to make a strong start to the second century of the Republic in line with the Century of Turkey goal, Işıkhan recalled that while setting out with this determination, they promised to make this century the century of labor, production, and development.

Stating that they have increased the minimum wage by taking measures to protect both the employee and the employer, Işıkhan underlined that they aim to move Turkey to an even better point in the fields of investment and employment by bringing inflation under control in the future.

Pointing out that they are walking towards common goals with all institutions and stakeholders in the fields of economic development and social progress with an approach that embraces working life in all its elements, Işıkhan emphasized that they hope Turkey will become one of the largest global industrial and trade centers by supporting the right production areas that are based on advanced technology, have high added value, have wide markets, and increase employment.

"WITHOUT HUMANS, THERE IS NO LABOR, NO WORK"

Minister Işıkhan pointed out that there is a major transformation in professions and skills along with the change and transformation experienced in technology, and continued as follows:

"Industrial relations, social security systems, relevant structures, and rules pertaining to working life are in a process of very rapid development and change compared to past years. It is thought that technological developments are destructive for labor markets and that digital labor will replace human labor. However, no matter what the conditions are, without humans, there is no labor, no work. It should not be forgotten that digital processes will also be managed by humans again."

Mentioning that some professions will be replaced by digital systems in the future and some will be wiped out from the labor market, Işıkhan stated that this does not mean that work will disappear completely, but that it will change and transform.

Stating that according to research, it is estimated that a large part of jobs will transform into new working areas by 2030 and that these professions will undergo significant changes in terms of content and skills, Işıkhan said, "This new digital age will also lead to the creation of new job opportunities, new employment, and labor areas. In this direction, we must develop our national policies, especially employment policies, very rapidly in a way that is suitable for this change and transformation."

"SOCIAL DIALOGUE IS OUR INDISPENSABLE ELEMENT"

Stating that he believes the cooperation to be established with unions and confederations in the work to be done in the Century of Turkey will yield positive results, Işıkhan continued his words as follows:

"Working together to strengthen our working life, our workers, and our employers, and contributing to the economic development of our country is our common goal. On the path to our goals, social dialogue is our indispensable element. Our approach, which centers on consensus rather than conflict in the social sphere, will also bring democracy and integration with it."

Minister Işıkhan stated that the primary goal is to ensure that decisions to be taken on every issue concerning workers and employers are realized in a way that satisfies both parties by consulting with mutual understanding.

Işıkhan made the following assessment:

"Our decision to convene the Tripartite Advisory Board immediately upon taking office is a result of the value we place on this understanding. As representatives of a state tradition that has made decisions by consulting with common sense in all consultative assemblies and has reached these days, we will continue on our path with the same sensitivity in the future as we have protected this tradition until today. We will strive to solve our problems before they arise. The Tripartite Advisory Board, which represents one of the most concrete steps of this effort, has a special importance in terms of improving industrial peace and industrial relations, following up on relevant legislative work and practices, and realizing the dialogue between our confederations and our Ministry."

Minister Işıkhan stated that the established board has undertaken important responsibilities both at the national and international levels, especially regarding developments, studies, and regulations in the process of relations with the ILO and the EU, and emphasized that they stand by everyone who adds value to Turkey, especially workers and employers.

MINIMUM WAGE STATEMENT

Reminding that the minimum wage was announced with the support of both worker and employer representatives by unanimous vote, Işıkhan explained that they brought the minimum wage level to the desired point and finalized it by taking into account the conditions Turkey is in with great devotion and common sense.

Stating that they provided 500 liras of support in the previous period with the minimum wage support paid from the Unemployment Insurance Fund, Işıkhan continued:

"We saw that 1.7 million of our 2 million employers benefited from this support. Our goal is to determine the minimum wage amounts for 2024 in December with full consensus, just as we did during the process of determining the July minimum wage. When we come together with employers and worker representatives, our goal will again be, as our President frequently emphasizes, not to let our employees be crushed by inflation."

"WE WILL SHARE THE INCREASING PROSPERITY WITH OUR EMPLOYEES"

Pointing out that there are signs that economic indicators will improve in the near future, Işıkhan shared the view, "When we manage budget discipline in a healthy way and succeed, we will hopefully share the increasing prosperity with our employees. This is one of the most important results of growth and development. The more we can increase prosperity and our national income, the more the number of those who receive a share of prosperity, our employees, and our laborers will increase."

Stating that contribution and cooperation are of great importance to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of working life and social dialogue in the coming period, Işıkhan emphasized that they will make this century the century of investment, production, employment, growth, and prosperity under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.