DİSK Basın-İş: One in every 3 media workers earns less than 30,000 TL!

A study conducted by the Press, Publishing and Printing Workers' Union of Turkey (DİSK Basın-İş) with the participation of 125 media workers from 65 different media organizations has revealed the harsh working conditions and low-wage policies in the sector.

According to the report, the average salary in the sector is 39,656 TL, a figure that does not even reach twice the minimum wage.

Only 5% of media workers earn above the poverty line. While the poverty line calculated for 2025 is 75,973 TL, one in every 3 media workers is working for a salary below 30,000 TL.

Even media workers with 5 years of experience struggle to cover housing costs in large cities with an average salary of 33,526 TL.

The average tenure at a workplace in the sector is only 2.7 years, and 88% of employees have been working at the same workplace for less than 5 years. The rate of those working for 10 years or more remains at only 6%.

SALARY INCREASES IN 2025 REMAINED INSUFFICIENT

Highlights from the March 2025 Media Workers' Base Wage Survey are as follows:

The average raise rate in the sector remained at 28%, a rate that is far from protecting the purchasing power of employees against rising inflation.

3 out of every 4 media workers earn less than just twice the minimum wage.

The average salary expectation of the participants is 58,334 TL, which is 47% higher than the current average. However, even this figure is well below the poverty line.

Meanwhile, 29 media workers stated that they have not yet received any raise in the first quarter of the year.

DİSK BASIN-İŞ'S DEMANDS: BASE WAGE, EXPERIENCE, AND SENIORITY RAISES

1. Base wage implementation: Instead of the minimum wage, the salary of a media worker starting in the profession should be at least twice the minimum wage.

2. Salary increase based on experience: Every media worker should receive a raise equal to the minimum wage increase each year. In addition, a 3% experience premium for each year and a 5% seniority raise for each year spent at the same workplace should be applied.

3. Field allowance: Journalists working in the field should be paid a daily field allowance of at least 750 TL.

4. Additional support in metropolitan cities: A 25% metropolitan allowance should be added for media workers working in large cities, taking into account the increase in living costs.

5. Union rights should be strengthened: Obstacles to organizing in the media sector should be removed, and the union rights of media workers should be protected and expanded.