Minimum wage falls far below expectations: Leaders react to the raise!

Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan announced the minimum wage for 2025 as 22,104 TL net, representing a 30 percent increase.

While Minister Işıkhan stated that this increase was made to improve the welfare level of citizens, the announcement sparked debates in public opinion and political circles. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in a post on social media, used the phrase, "May it be auspicious for our country and our nation."

TÜRK-İŞ HAD WALKED AWAY FROM THE TABLE

While the "Minimum Wage Determination Commission" meeting was planned to be held on Thursday, it was notable that the decision was moved to this evening in a rushed manner.

Just before the meeting, Türk-İş announced that they would not sit at the table, citing that their demands were not met. Türk-İş President Ergün Atalay stated, "This figure is condemning the worker to hunger. Our demands have been clearly ignored."

CITIZENS ARE DISTRESSED

Despite the 30 percent increase, criticisms that the new minimum wage cannot even cover the hunger threshold have found wide resonance on social media. The 17,002 TL minimum wage set for 2023 had fallen below the hunger threshold due to raises throughout the year and had seriously affected the purchasing power of citizens. There is a prevailing concern that the 22,104 TL figure set for 2025 will also not be sufficient in the current economic crisis environment.

'GOVERNMENT RESIGN' BECAME A TRENDING TOPIC

Following the minimum wage announcement, the hashtag "GovernmentResign" (Hükümetİstifa) became a trending topic on Twitter (X) in a short time. Thousands of citizens expressed that they found the raise rate insufficient and that economic problems were not being solved.

REACTIONS POURED IN FROM POLITICIANS

After the statements by Minister Işıkhan and President Erdoğan, reactions poured in from politicians and citizens.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, who was the first to react, included the following statements in his post on his social media account:

"The 22,104 TL minimum wage determined at the hastily held Commission meeting today is the latest sign that Tayyip Erdoğan has become disconnected from the realities of this country. Those who have been claiming for days that they achieved a victory in Syria have inflicted a defeat on the laborers and imposed a starvation wage. Those who engage in fake heroism over Syria and cast a fog over the real agenda have once again stolen the rights of the worker amidst that fog. They gave a 5,000 lira raise to a minimum wage that has eroded by at least 7,000 lira against the cost of living since it was first given in January. While the inflation for minimum wage earners is 80% and even the TUIK inflation is 47%, they crushed millions of minimum wage earners under inflation. Shame on those who steal the rights of this country's workers and bear the burden of their sin. I congratulate the Türk-İş management for not attending the meeting held as a fait accompli, and I invite the working class to use their power stemming from production."

"THE GOVERNMENT HAS MOCKED MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS"

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu included the following statements in his post on his social media account:

"With its decision this evening, the government has officially mocked 9 million minimum wage employees and their families. 22,104 lira is not even enough for 1 month's rent in Istanbul. It is clear that the responsibility falls on us. As the IMM, we will need to significantly increase our Social Aid budget. I have 2 suggestions for the President, who has become disconnected from reality and the people. Use the 'decree' card you use so often tomorrow and provide an additional increase in the minimum wage. Also, announce the good news that the determined figure is for 6 months and that a new regulation will be made after 6 months. Do not make the nation pay the bill for your bad economic policies."

"THEY ARE DISREGARDING THE SWEAT OF MILLIONS"

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş made the following statement on his social media account:

"The labor of the worker is the backbone of this country. However, the 22,104 TL minimum wage announced today disregards the sweat of millions! While the cost of living increases a little more every day in markets and bazaars, this figure deemed worthy of the worker's labor is far from alleviating the burden of livelihood. We continue to stand by our citizens with our social, educational, and housing support."

REACTIONS FROM DEM PARTY CO-CHAIRS

DEM Party Co-Chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan reacted to the new minimum wage with posts on their social media accounts.

Tülay Hatimoğulları stated the following in her post:

"The minimum wage is a wage of misery and hunger! The minimum wage was announced as 22,104 TL by saying 'may it be auspicious for the nation'... There is no good in this! The people are not in this wage. Workers are not in it. While the poverty line is over 70,000 TL, this minimum wage is a starvation wage. Didn't you say you wouldn't let the people be crushed by inflation? Can't you keep your word for even one day? Let the Erdoğan of today come out and answer the Erdoğan who said years ago in a speech, 'Who will pay the house rent? Who will pay the electricity and water bills? This cruel administration denies this noble nation even a cup of tea and a bagel.' Because a minimum wage that is not even enough for rent has been determined."

Tuncer Bakırhan stated the following:

"The announced minimum wage is the good news of hunger and poverty coming before entering 2025. The AKP government has once again shown its hostility toward laborers and that it has no remaining connection with life and society. In this order where rents are over 20,000 TL, the poverty line exceeds 70,000 TL, and taxes have been raised by 43.93 percent, this wage determined for millions of minimum wage earners is the clearest message of the government's insistence on poverty and hunger imposed on the people. The people have no words left to chew, no rent left to pay, and no strength left to visit the market. This wage is an attempt to force the people to accept misery in plain sight. It is a toll for war and rent-seeking. We reject the determined minimum wage. Together with millions of minimum wage earners and everyone who stands with labor and life, we demand that a wage worthy of human dignity be determined against this minimum wage."

"IT IS LITERALLY OPPRESSION"

Gelecek Party Chairman Ahmet Davutoğlu, who was on the agenda with his statement "I will return to the AKP if the President calls," was also among the politicians who reacted to the new minimum wage.

In his statement on his social media account, Davutoğlu said, "Deeming a minimum wage that corresponds to the hunger threshold according to the figures determined by TÜRK-İŞ worthy of a society where the minimum wage is the average wage is literally oppression."

"HE SAID HE WAS AN ECONOMIST AND RUINED THE ECONOMY"

Memleket Party Chairman Muharrem İnce also said in his statement on his social media account, "44 percent raise for driver's licenses, passports, and MTV, 47 percent TUIK inflation, 70 percent food inflation, but 30 percent raise for the minimum wage! He said he was an economist and ruined the economy, and left the entire burden on the employees!"

"A 30 PERCENT RAISE IS A VIOLATION OF RIGHTS"

DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan, in his statement on his social media account, quoted Erdoğan's post and said:

"Mr. Erdoğan, you increased the taxes you will collect from the nation by 46% in the 2025 budget. While the ink on the budget has not yet dried, increasing the minimum wage by 30% is a violation of rights. You cannot prosper the economy by incurring the curse of the poor."

"THE ENTIRE BILL FOR FAILURE IS BEING CUT TO THE OPPRESSED"

Yeniden Refah Party Chairman Fatih Erbakan was also among those who reacted to the new minimum wage.

Erbakan used the following expressions in his statement on his social media account:

"The Minimum Wage figure that the government deems worthy of our nation is 22,104 TL! The entire bill for the government's failure in the economy is being cut to the oppressed, the millions with low incomes, our retirees, and those on fixed wages. Let those who govern enjoy themselves for now, the oppressed will certainly hold this indifferent mentality accountable at the ballot box! On this dark night where we watch with dismay the troll journalists who defend, openly or subconsciously, that this figure is 'even too much' on TV programs, I say, 'The curse of the oppressed brings down the Shah,' and I invite the government to turn back from this mistake as soon as possible."