HAK-İŞ President Arslan: 'We object to the structure of the Minimum Wage Determination Commission'

The HAK-İŞ Confederation held an 'Extended Presidents' Board Meeting' as part of its 49th anniversary. The meeting, which began with a short film screening about HAK-İŞ's 49th year, addressed HAK-İŞ's 49th anniversary, the Turkish agenda, the trade union agenda, and working life. 

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also sent a written message for the 49th anniversary of the founding of HAK-İŞ. President Erdoğan's message included the following statements: 

 "The HAK-İŞ Confederation, a representative of solution-oriented trade unionism with its positive contributions to our country's trade union movement and working life, and its suggestions and proposals regarding workers' problems, is one of our country's deep-rooted and respected unions. The HAK-İŞ Confederation makes significant contributions to our democracy and working life with its solidarity-based and conciliatory understanding of trade unionism. I sincerely congratulate the HAK-İŞ Confederation, which continues its work in a principled manner to protect the rights of laborers, on its 49th anniversary and wish you continued success. I greet you and all your members who add value to our country with their labor, sweat, and production with my most heartfelt feelings." 

Delivering an opening speech here, HAK-İŞ President Mahmut Arslan stated that HAK-İŞ has waged difficult struggles in many areas, especially during the September 12 and February 28 periods, and expressed that they have always faced pressures on HAK-İŞ, intimidation campaigns against unions, and similar problems in every period. 

 Arslan stated that at 49 years old, HAK-İŞ operates in every province of Turkey, adding, "With its provincial presidencies in 81 provinces, 21 unions—one of which is in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)—more than 850 thousand members, and over 200 branches, it is among the strongest and most effective confederations in Turkey. We are at a point where we represent workers and laborers on many platforms such as the Economic and Social Council, the Joint Consultative Committee, the Tripartite Advisory Board, the Vocational Qualifications Authority (MYK), the Labor Assembly, the Social Security Institution (SGK), the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR), and the Public Collective Bargaining Coordination Board (KÇP), having been a party to many of our country's institutions in this regard." 

Stating that for the HAK-İŞ Confederation to grow, its affiliated unions must grow, Arslan noted that although the unions affiliated with HAK-İŞ are number one in their respective sectors, they do not represent more than 50 percent of workers in terms of representation. Arslan stated that the representation power of the three confederations, including independent unions, in Turkish working life is 15 percent.

 "Periods of rising inflation are periods when employees lose but employers win" 

Noting that there are existing problems in working life, Arslan drew attention to high inflation as one of these problems. Stating that the recent high inflation is a painful phenomenon, Arslan included the following statements: 

"All over the world, periods of rising inflation appear as a phenomenon where employees lose, but employers and certain circles win. Therefore, HAK-İŞ has an obligation to fulfill its responsibilities regarding the compensation of losses caused by inflation. For this reason, we have continued to keep these issues on the agenda constantly but persistently with our government, primarily our President, Vice President, Minister of Labor and Social Security, Minister of Treasury and Finance, Deputy Chairmen of the Justice and Development Party, and many other interlocutors. We did not just object to ensure these efforts yield results. We also brought solutions along with them. We took an important step in finding scientific solutions to these problems with the HAK-İŞ Academy, which we established after our General Assembly in 2023." 

"The 3 confederations prepared a joint declaration and shared it with the public" 

Reminding that the 3 labor confederations came together to solve the common problems of working life, Arslan said, "The 3 confederations prepared a joint declaration and shared it with the public. Later, we made these efforts concrete. Each confederation decided to share these issues with its own members and the public in at least three provinces. In this direction, as HAK-İŞ, we successfully held these rallies in Kocaeli, Gaziantep, and Kayseri with the great support and enthusiasm of our employees, which is truly a source of pride for us. The other confederations also held their final rallies last weekend. We will continue to discuss what will be done in the future for the period ahead." 

"A pension calculation system that does not account for inflation presents a serious contradiction between 2024 and 2025" 

Drawing attention to the fact that the monthly pension calculation system in the retirement system is a system designed without considering the effect of inflation, Arslan said, "Especially a pension calculation system that does not account for high inflation presents a serious contradiction between 2024 and 2025. If our brothers and sisters who will retire this year postpone their retirement to next year, they will have to accept a drop of nearly 30 percent in their pensions. This is a great loss and a great injustice for this country and for the laborers. You work more. You pay more premiums. But your pension is lower. Why? The coefficient multiplied by inflation is the 2023 inflation and the payments made that year were 86 percent, while this year's targets are 42 percent, and as a result of the 30-point difference between the figures added on top, those who retire next year will receive lower pensions." 

"The reinstatement mechanism in Turkey is extremely weak" 

Stating that there are obstacles to job security and trade union organization, Arslan said, "The reinstatement mechanism in Turkey is extremely weak, and employees are further victimized by the reinstatement mechanism. The lack of real job security and the fact that existing job security is symbolic means that employees suffer greater losses in its implementation. For this reason, if we are to keep trade union organization truly strong, the most important first condition for this is job security. Because workers never want to stay away from trade unionism. Even if it is the worst, they want union membership. And these people are often heroes who are willing to risk being unemployed by participating in trade union struggles." 

"We object to the structure of the Minimum Wage Determination Commission" 

Touching upon the issue of minimum wage, Arslan stated that the minimum wage is the lowest wage but is evaluated as a general wage in Turkey, adding, "We object to the structure of the Minimum Wage Determination Commission. The structure of the commission is not equitable, fair, inclusive, or participatory. Secondly, we also object to the minimum wage practices. As the name suggests, the minimum wage is the lowest wage, the minimum wage. You cannot employ someone below this wage. At the point we have reached today, the rate of those working for minimum wage has approached 50 percent of total employees."

"The 20 percent tax bracket is reached in 5 minimum wages" 

Speaking about the tax bracket applied to wages, Arslan said, "In 2002, after 17 minimum wages were paid, one would move to a higher bracket. The 20 percent bracket was reached after 17 minimum wages. Today, even though no tax is taken from the minimum wage, when we look at it, the minimum wage reaches the 20 percent bracket in the 5th month."