Gökçe points to fitra amount, reacts to salaries: 'Wages are not enough to feed people'

The fitra amount determined by the Diyanet has surpassed the minimum wage and pension. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Buğra Gökçe used the fitra amount as an example to state that minimum wages and pensions have 'reduced even retirees to a state where they are eligible to receive fitra.'

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Gökçe points to fitra amount, reacts to salaries: 'Wages are not enough to feed people'

Istanbul Planning Agency President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Buğra Gökçe reacted to pension and minimum wage rates by using the announced fitra amount as an example. The fitra amount determined by the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) for 2024 was announced as 180 TL. This amount is considered the sum required to meet a person's daily minimum food needs. Questioning the adequacy of pensions and minimum wages based on this figure, Gökçe noted that according to the fitra amount, a family of four would need to set aside 720 TL daily and 21 thousand 600 TL monthly just for food expenses.

However, the minimum wage in Turkey is 22 thousand 104 TL, and the lowest pension is at the level of 14 thousand 469 TL. Gökçe argued that based on the fitra amount, employees and retirees are struggling even to meet their basic food needs.

In his assessment of the issue, Gökçe stated the following:

'The minimum wage determined by the government is not enough to meet the basic needs of employees. Retirees, on the other hand, are not in a position to give fitra.'

Istanbul Planning Agency President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Buğra Gökçe

THE LIVELIHOOD STRUGGLE OF LOW-INCOME EARNERS

Gökçe pointed out that when mandatory expenses such as rent, electricity, water, and natural gas are added to food expenses, the livelihood struggle of low-income citizens becomes even more apparent. The Inflation Research Group (ENAG) in Turkey claimed that, according to their own calculations, the 22 thousand 104 TL minimum wage lost more than 900 liras in value due to inflation in January.

Publishing a statement on behalf of the Istanbul Planning Agency, Gökçe reported the following in a post on his X account:

''What is the fitra amount? It is the money required to meet one person's daily food needs. The Presidency of Religious Affairs determined the fitra amount as 180 liras, taking into account current socio-economic living conditions and a person's daily food needs. For a family of 4, the fitra amount is 720 liras daily and 21 thousand 600 liras monthly. And this is just for food needs. There are no mandatory living expenses like rent, heating, or electricity. Today, the minimum wage in Turkey is 22 thousand 104 liras. The lowest pension is 14 thousand 469 liras. In other words, the government does not even allow those working for the minimum wage it has determined to feed themselves, and it reduces retirees to a state where they are eligible to receive fitra. We present this distortion to the public's knowledge.''