Minimum wage call from TÜRK-İŞ, HAK-İŞ, and DİSK

TÜRK-İŞ, HAK-İŞ, and DİSK have stated that a minimum wage must be determined that allows workers and their families to live humanely according to the economic and social conditions of the day and is consistent with human dignity.

In a joint written statement signed by TÜRK-İŞ President Ergün Atalay, HAK-İŞ President Mahmut Arslan, and DİSK President Arzu Çerkezoğlu, it was noted that the Minimum Wage Determination Commission will hold its first meeting on Tuesday, December 10, at the call of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security to determine the minimum wage that will be valid in 2025.

In this context, it was reported that the presidents of the 3 confederations evaluated the developments regarding the minimum wage and the views reflected in the public, and decided to issue a joint statement. The statement emphasized that determining a minimum wage that will provide a decent standard of living for workers and their families is the expectation and common demand of millions of workers.

"WORKERS ARE THE VICTIMS OF INFLATION"

The statement, which emphasized that nearly half of wage earners earn an income at or near the minimum wage and that the average earnings subject to social security premiums are slightly above the minimum wage, reported that in such a structure, efforts to determine the minimum wage concern not only the wage-earning segment but the entire society closely and directly.

Stating that the increase in the prices of basic goods and services, especially food, has reduced the purchasing power of workers, particularly those not covered by union organization, the following was recorded:

"Workers are not the cause of inflation, but its victims. An approach that views inflation increases in wage incomes is unacceptable. The minimum wage is a measure of the respect shown to labor. The minimum wage level in our country is behind most EU member countries. Turkey's competitive conditions should not be achieved through a low-wage policy. Within the framework of the social state concept, determining the minimum wage with an approach that is based on justice and improvement in income distribution and aims to spread prosperity to large masses is necessary to ensure social peace and industrial harmony. Worker representatives advocate the following principles, which should be taken as a basis during the Commission's work, in order to determine a minimum wage at a level 'worthy of human dignity': The 'living conditions' approach included in the Constitution must be primarily complied with in determining the minimum wage.

A minimum wage must be determined that allows the worker and their family to live humanely according to the economic and social conditions of the day and is consistent with human dignity. The minimum wage must be determined as a single national level without any discrimination. It should be handled independently of all economic evaluations such as qualifications, seniority, and the nature of the work among workers. The minimum wage should be accepted as a social wage and determined accordingly. The state should not discriminate between employees and should take into account the lowest monthly amount valid in the public sector when determining the minimum wage. Obstacles to union organization should be removed, and the minimum wage incentive should only be applied to workplaces where there is union organization. A minimum wage determination that the majority of society will accept and that will improve the living conditions of workers will be possible within this scope."

News Source: 12punto