3rd meeting concludes: Still no figure for the minimum wage!
The 3rd meeting of the Minimum Wage Determination Commission has concluded. TÜRK-İŞ Vice President Ramazan Ağar made statements to the press. While Ağar did not announce a figure, he responded to journalists' questions by saying, "Ask either the employer or the government for the figure."
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The third meeting of the Minimum Wage Determination Commission, which convened today, has concluded. The meeting was chaired by Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan, with TİSK Secretary General Akansel Koç leading the employer delegation and TÜRK-İŞ Vice President Ramazan Ağar leading the worker delegation.
'ASK THE EMPLOYER OR THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE FIGURE'
TÜRK-İŞ Vice President Ramazan Ağar made statements to the press following the meeting. The highlights of Ağar's statement are as follows:
"No figure was brought to the agenda during the commission meeting. The press asks why TÜRK-İŞ does not announce a figure. As the press, you do not press the government or the employer as much as you press us to state a figure. We are the side requesting money; therefore, those who provide the money and our government should state a figure so that we can take our stance accordingly. Our Minister of Labor also chaired the commission today. We presented our views and stated the realized inflation. We spoke so that our approximately 8 million minimum wage-earning friends living in this country can at least partially meet their needs. A figure almost emerges from what we have said. Our Minister has received our views and those of the employer. We think that both a figure and a result will come next week. Our hope is that they bring a wage that the nation can accept.
Our friends have been working for a minimum wage of 17 thousand liras for 1 year. 11 thousand liras of that 17 thousand liras has been lost due to purchasing power. These need to be calculated well. Our hope is for it to be by consensus. So far, it has been by consensus 6 times. We have been in opposition 18 times. Hopefully, they will not make us oppose it again and will bring a reasonable wage. Otherwise, of course, we will not accept it. The employer side is not stating any figure. We are not stating a figure either. If we state a figure, we cannot handle the consequences of this. Stating a figure is the easiest part. There is no point in creating expectations for the nation. Ask either the employer or the government for the figure."