Striking minimum wage post from Prof. Dr. Hakan Kara: Hunger and misery...

Following Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan's statement that 'an interim raise is not on our agenda' and MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli's remark that "We will provide the necessary contributions when proposals are made," all eyes have turned to July. Prof. Dr. Hakan Kara shared a striking graph regarding the minimum wage.

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Former Chief Economist of the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye, Prof. Dr. Hakan Kara, shared a graph on X regarding what will happen if there is no interim raise in the eagerly awaited minimum wage. 

In the graph shared by Prof. Dr. Kara, while the minimum wage remains fixed at 17 thousand 2 liras, it is seen that the hunger threshold has risen above 21 thousand liras.

WHO IS SAYING WHAT ABOUT THE MINIMUM WAGE?

Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan said, “Our data regarding inflation is coming in quite well. There is no interim raise on our agenda.” 

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel had brought up the issue of an interim raise in the minimum wage in July during his visit to MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli and stated that Bahçeli was also warm to a July raise. 

MHP leader Bahçeli, in response to a question about the minimum wage in recent days, replied, “Raising the welfare level of people who are subject to the minimum wage should be the primary duty of every person living in this country. Therefore, when similar proposals are made, we will provide the necessary contributions.”

INCREASE IN THE HUNGER THRESHOLD 

Finally, yesterday, the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ) announced the hunger and poverty threshold figures for May. The hunger threshold for May is 18 thousand 969 liras and 22 kuruş. The hunger threshold, which exceeded the minimum wage of 17 thousand 2 liras—applied since January 2024—for the first time last month, has risen to 1 thousand 967 liras above the minimum wage this month.