Statement from an expert: How much should the minimum wage and pension increase be?

There is great anticipation regarding the minimum wage and pension increases to be announced before the new year.

Responding to questions from İrem Sansak on Sözcü TV, Social Security Expert Dilek Ete evaluated current developments regarding the minimum wage and pensions.

Emphasizing that the minimum wage has ceased to be a "starting wage" over the years and has instead become an average wage, Ete assessed, "I no longer expect a minimum wage between 22,000 and 23,000 lira, but rather between 24,000 and 25,000 lira. It is highly unlikely that a figure below this will be announced."

Ete added that she finds the likelihood of the 29,583 lira demand presented by Türk-İş being realized to be low.

Drawing attention to the costs small businesses will face with a minimum wage increase, Ete stated that a figure of 29,583 lira would cost the employer 36,000 lira including insurance premiums.

Ete said, "Small businesses cannot carry this burden. For this reason, different regulations could be made for the minimum wage between large enterprises and small tradespeople."

WILL A 'FLAT-RATE INCREASE' COME?

Making striking assessments regarding the situation of retirees, Ete noted that out of 16 million retirees in Turkey, 11 million retired based on their own premiums, and half of them receive a pension below the hunger threshold.

Ete said, "President Erdoğan declared this year the 'Year of the Retiree,' but retirees have seen nothing this year. Retirees cannot catch their breath without a flat-rate increase."

DREW ATTENTION TO QUEUES

Emphasizing that retirees are struggling to make ends meet due to rent and food expenses, the social security expert said the following:

“Retirees can no longer eat properly. They are waiting in queues for public bread and at city restaurants for a 50 TL meal. Today, even a glass of tea is 25 lira. How will a retiree get by on the salary they receive, and how will they lead a dignified life?”

Drawing attention to the problems with civil servant salaries, Ete stated that collective bargaining agreements provide advantages to retired civil servants but are not reflected in the same way for active civil servants.