Özgür Özel calls on the government for 'minimum wage': 'A promise made must be kept'

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel emphasized that an interim raise should be made to the minimum wage in July and demanded social security premium support so that small tradespeople are not negatively affected by this increase. Visiting the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK), Özel called on Parliament to both protect minimum wage earners against inflation and alleviate the burden on tradespeople.

In his statement, Özel used the following expressions:

"Since the day the 22 thousand lira minimum wage was granted, it has eroded by more than 3 thousand lira, even according to the data of TURKSTAT, which citizens generally accept as not reflecting the actual inflation figures. When July arrives, the raise made to the minimum wage will almost disappear even according to TURKSTAT. When you look at the real inflation figures, the inflation monster has already swallowed the minimum wage raise.

"WE BELIEVE SMALL TRADESPEOPLE MUST BE PROTECTED"

For this reason, just as we visited labor confederations and employer representatives, we wanted to visit our tradespeople—a professional group that will be affected both negatively and positively by a possible minimum wage increase—and consult, discuss, and debate this with them.

Because a raise in the minimum wage will reflect most positively on tradespeople when the money entering the pockets of minimum wage earners increases directly. If there is no money for the worker, no money for the civil servant, no money in the pensioner's pocket, and the farmer cannot get a good price for their product, there is no money for the tradesperson either. This is the biggest problem for tradespeople. But on the other hand, small tradespeople are also employers who hire minimum wage workers. What will these tradespeople, who are already struggling so much, do when a raise comes to the minimum wage? That is why we have a proposal. We propose increasing the minimum wage but protecting small tradespeople during this increase.

We all know that when the minimum wage is increased, the Social Security Institution's premium collections also increase incredibly. When even just a quarter of these premium collections are waived and offered as support to tradespeople and employers, the problem is almost solved by itself. We assess that with support for the social security premiums of small tradespeople—especially those who employ up to five workers and hire minimum wage earners—they will both be protected from this increase and be able to smile a little with the minimum wage raise."

"A PROMISE MADE MUST BE KEPT"

Stating that they did not only talk about the minimum wage, Özel said, "Tradespeople have a very important problem. While a worker employed by a tradesperson retires in 7,200 days, the tradesperson has to work 9,000 days. Working 9,000 days to retire means paying premiums for 1,800 more days—six more years—and not receiving a salary while there are 7,200 days. What you call paying premiums is not a simple thing. 8 thousand lira comes out of the tradesperson's pocket every month. As you know, while we were voicing this during the last elections, Mr. Erdoğan had also promised that this issue would be resolved. Since it has not been reduced to 7,200 days until now, every tradesperson has to pay at least 8 thousand lira out of their pocket for six more years and remains deprived of the 14 thousand 500 lira they would receive even if they were to get the lowest pension. They have completed 7,200 days. In other words, the loss of a tradesperson working between 7,200 and 9,000 days is 22 thousand lira. A step must be taken at this point. A promise made must be kept" he said.

CALL TO THE GOVERNMENT

Emphasizing, "We are in the place closest to Parliament, we are right next to Parliament. They say 'a candle does not light its own base,' and it seems Parliament does not light its own base either. These burning problems of tradespeople are not being solved," Özel expressed the following:

"We would like to say again and again; there is a problem with tradespeople's access to credit, and tradespeople should be supported with very low-interest and very long-term loans. This increase in interest rates has also put tradespeople in a very serious predicament. Besides this, one of our deputies, Talat Bey, Talat Dinçer, comes from the Mersin Chamber of Tradesmen Presidency. This is a very important representation in Parliament. It is a situation that shows the value we place on tradespeople. We think and assess that this situation is very important for all political parties and for the representation of tradespeople in Parliament. In the coming period, we will bring a series of our efforts to the parliamentary agenda for the expected Retail Law to be enacted as soon as possible, for the reduction of 9,000 days to 7,200 days, and for the minimum wage regulation and the simultaneous support of tradespeople, small businesses, and SMEs.

We expect support from all parties on this issue. Because it must be said; tradespeople do not have a party. There are tradespeople from every party. But they all have common problems. For these problems to be solved, the Parliament right across the road needs to take action. We say to the government, 'Come, let us hold the tradesperson's hand, let us not leave the tradesperson's hand hanging in the air.' I extend my hand to Mr. Bendevi Palandöken on behalf of all tradespeople, and I hope that no one leaves the tradespeople's hand hanging in the air. Our call to Mr. Erdoğan is also; let us not leave the tradesperson's hand hanging in the air, let us hold it together."