What you need to know about minimum wage negotiations

The process to determine the new minimum wage, which directly concerns nearly 7 million employees and indirectly affects all citizens, will officially begin tomorrow.

At the meeting hosted by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the employer side will be represented by the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK), and the worker side will be represented by Türk-İş, as it is the confederation with the highest number of members.

TİSK Secretary General Akansel Koç will chair the employer delegation, while Türk-İş Deputy Chairman Ramazan Ağar will chair the worker delegation.

TÜRK-İŞ: A MINIMUM WAGE WORTHY OF HUMAN DIGNITY

In this year's negotiations, unlike in previous years, 4 workers will be included in the 5-person Türk-İş delegation for the first time. A cashier, a healthcare worker, an energy worker, and a subcontractor working on highways will contribute to the process of determining the new minimum wage this year.

Türk-İş, which has not yet shared its demand for the new minimum wage with the public, is calling for a minimum wage at a level "worthy of human dignity."

TİSK: MINIMUM WAGE SHOULD BE AT A BALANCED LEVEL

TİSK, which wants the new minimum wage to be determined this year through a tripartite agreement between workers, employers, and the government, is of the opinion that the wage should be at a balanced level that protects employment and competitiveness.

DİSK: MINIMUM WAGE SHOULD BE UPDATED 4 TIMES A YEAR

DİSK Chair Arzu Çerkezoğlu stated that under high inflation conditions, the minimum wage should be updated not twice, but four times a year.

Çerkezoğlu said, "The minimum wage should be determined in accordance with all international standards as a wage that allows a worker to make a living with their family. The rate applied to the first tax bracket after the minimum wage should be reduced to 10 percent, tax brackets should be increased, and we should be prevented from moving into a higher tax bracket during the year as if we had become wealthier as employees. The lowest pension should be raised to at least the level of the minimum wage. Distinguishing between private sector workers and public workers is contrary to the Constitution's principle of equality. The minimum wage should be calculated by taking into account the lowest public worker wage and the lowest civil servant salary."

GOVERNMENT: THERE WILL BE A SINGLE RAISE PER YEAR

Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan stated that they would come together with the parties quickly, just as they did in July, to determine the minimum wage, saying, "We will start the process on Monday; our bureaucrats are working with the commissions. We will share it with you once it is finalized."

When reminded of statements that there would be only one raise for the minimum wage, Minister Işıkhan said, "There will be a single raise, because that is what is in our regulation, our Minimum Wage Regulation, which is once a year. In very mandatory circumstances, such as an earthquake... Last year, we made a second raise to the minimum wage upon the instruction of our President."

HOW IS THE MINIMUM WAGE DETERMINED?

By law, the minimum wage is determined by the Minimum Wage Determination Commission, which consists of 15 people, with five representatives each from workers, employers, and the government.

The commission meets on dates determined in December as part of the efforts to determine the new minimum wage.

The commission, chaired by one of the members appointed by the Ministry, meets with the participation of at least 10 members and makes decisions by majority vote. In the event of a tie, the side with the chair is considered to have the majority.

MINIMUM WAGE IS 11 THOUSAND 402 TL NET

The minimum wage is currently applied as 13 thousand 414 Turkish Lira and 50 kuruş gross per month for one worker, and 11 thousand 402 Turkish Lira and 32 kuruş net after taxes and deductions.

The total cost of the minimum wage to the employer for one worker is 15 thousand 762 Turkish Lira and 4 kuruş. Of this, 13 thousand 414 Turkish Lira and 50 kuruş constitutes the gross minimum wage, 2 thousand 79 Turkish Lira and 25 kuruş is the social security premium, and 268 Turkish Lira and 29 kuruş is the employer's unemployment insurance premium.

News Source: 12punto