Second meeting on minimum wage today

The minimum wage determination committee will hold its second meeting today. Basic economic data will be discussed at the meeting, which Türk-İş is not expected to attend.

The Minimum Wage Determination Committee will hold its second meeting today as part of its efforts to determine the minimum wage that will take effect in 2026.

Chaired by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the Committee held its first meeting on December 12 and basic economic indicators will be discussed at the meeting at 14:00. Representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Finance and Trade and the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) will share data and reports with the committee chaired by Director General of Labor Oğuz Tuncay.

TÜRK-İŞ'S PROTEST CONTINUES

The minimum wage directly affects 7 million workers and, by extension, the entire society. Türk-İş representatives, who believe the committee structure is unfair and should be changed, are not expected to attend the second meeting as they did in the first.

IŞIKHAN: TALK ABOUT EARLY NUMBERS

Responding to questions from journalists before the budget discussion at the General Assembly of the Turkish Parliament yesterday, Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan said: “Will a number be discussed in the second meeting?” Answering the question “It is too early to give numbers because we need to get opinions from all parties and evaluate in the committee”. he said.

Referring to the minimum wage in his budget presentation in Parliament, Işıkhan said, “We will not subject our employees to inflation.” he said.

Regarding TÜRK-İŞ not attending the meetings, Minister Işıkhan said, “We will carry out all kinds of processes in accordance with social dialogue. I will meet with the unions and get their opinions, this is my duty, we will definitely consult.” He used the following expressions.

DECISIONS ARE MADE BY MAJORITY VOTE

By law, decisions are made by majority vote in the Committee that determines the minimum wage. Although Türk-İş was not present at the negotiating table, the government and the employer side represented by the Confederation of Turkish Employers' Associations (TİSK) were able to reach a quorum to determine the minimum wage effective in 2026. The fee effective in 2026 must be determined by the end of the month.

The minimum wage currently applied is 26 thousand 5 liras and 50 kuruş gross per month per worker and 22 thousand 104 liras and 67 kuruş when deducting deductions. The total minimum wage costs that employers must pay are 30 thousand 621 liras and 48 kuruş per worker. Of these, 26 thousand 5 liras and 50 cents is the total minimum wage, 4 thousand 95 liras and 87 cents are social insurance fees, and 520 liras and 11 cents are the employer's unemployment insurance fund.