20.10.2026 16:32
BBP Chairman Mustafa Destici said, "While our other employees and retirees receive an inflation difference every six months, why doesn't the minimum wage earner receive an inflation difference? Either the Minimum Wage Determination Commission should meet twice a year, or if it meets once, the provision that they will receive the six-month inflation difference must definitely be added to that agreement, that consensus."
BBP Chairman Mustafa Destici spoke at the “Workshop on the Next 50 Years of Working Life in Türkiye” organized by the HAK-İŞ Confederation.
Emphasizing that one of Türkiye’s most fundamental issues is tax injustice, Destici said that the 2026 budget has more than approximately 16 trillion liras in revenue, more than 18 trillion liras in expenditure, and a deficit of approximately 2.8 trillion liras, and that almost all of this deficit corresponds to interest expenditures. Destici also touched upon the estimated budget figures for 2027 announced by the Vice President, stating that approximately 23 trillion liras in revenue and around 27 trillion liras in expenditure are projected. Destici said, “The deficit has risen above four trillion liras, and all of it is interest expenditure. While the increase in the budget does not even reach 30 percent, the increase in interest has exceeded 40 percent. This is one of the most important of our fundamental problems.”
Arguing that the budget deficit is being tried to be closed with taxes, Destici emphasized that the tax system should be based on the principle of taking more tax from those who earn a lot, less from those who earn little, and no tax at all from those who do not earn.
Saying that most tax revenues are obtained from indirect taxes, Destici drew attention to the fact that citizens with different income levels pay the same rate of tax on consumption. Destici said, “When Türkiye’s richest person buys 20 liters of diesel for his car, he pays the same tax; the minimum-wage worker pays the same tax; and the retiree receiving 23 thousand liras pays the same tax.”
Destici also criticized the scope of the Special Consumption Tax, stating that they oppose this tax being taken from the diesel farmers use in production. Expressing that the diesel farmers use when sowing wheat and sugar beet cannot be considered private consumption, Destici said, “We, as the BBP, are not saying this today. For years we have been saying that the Special Consumption Tax (ÖTV) on diesel used by farmers must definitely be abolished. Our tax system must be renewed from top to bottom. In principle, more tax should be taken from those who earn a lot and less from those who earn little; no tax should ever, under any circumstances, be taken from those who do not earn, from minimum-wage workers, or from retirees. This is our fundamental principle.”
“WHY IS NO INFLATION DIFFERENCE GIVEN TO MINIMUM-WAGE WORKERS?”
Stating that HAK-İŞ aims to create common wisdom by bringing different segments together through the workshop, Destici pointed to the importance of political parties, public institutions, and trade unions meeting on the same ground. Arguing that one of Türkiye’s fundamental problems is the difficulty in coming together to produce common solutions, Destici said, “Unfortunately, we cannot manage to come together and produce common solutions by creating a common wisdom. I would like to congratulate HAK-İŞ once again here for achieving this today with this workshop.”
Saying that he found the criticisms regarding the structure of the Minimum Wage Determination Commission justified, Destici drew attention to the loss of minimum-wage workers against inflation. Noting that in a country where inflation is at 30 percent, there should be objection to the minimum wage being determined only once a year, Destici called on trade unions and said, “While our other workers and retirees receive an inflation difference every six months, why does the minimum-wage worker not receive an inflation difference? Either the Minimum Wage Determination Commission should convene twice a year, or if it convenes once, the six-month inflation difference they will receive must definitely be added to that agreement, that consensus.”
Pointing out that the minimum wage determined in January remained the same in the tenth month of the year, Destici said that during this process the wage and purchasing power declined significantly. Destici said, “We give retirees an inflation difference, even if low, and we give it to workers. Why do we not give it to the minimum-wage worker who receives the lowest wage? In my view, this is the first issue on which no concession should be made.”
“THE SALARY BALANCE BETWEEN WORKERS AND RETIREES HAS BEEN BROKEN”
Stating that when evaluating working life, the income level during retirement should also be taken into account, Destici emphasized that not only the wage received while working but also the salary to be received upon retirement must be fair.
Stating that in January 2023 the salary balance between workers and retirees was at the level of two-thirds, Destici said, “While a worker received three, a retiree received two. Today it is three to one. It is necessary to fight this. It is also necessary to wage this struggle for retirees.”
Arguing that the rights provided to working civil servants through collective bargaining should be reflected to retirees in the same way, Destici noted that this approach could also be applied to worker retirees through the necessary legal and constitutional arrangements.
Saying that experts will evaluate the technical topics of the workshop, Destici stated that the responsibility of politicians is to produce solutions to the problems citizens encounter in daily life. Destici said, “What falls to us are current issues; the demands of workers, retirees, civil servants, minimum-wage workers, and citizens. These are what are priority for us. I think we need to focus on these, and we are focusing on them.”
“A MINIMUM HOUSEHOLD LIVING AMOUNT SHOULD BE DETERMINED”
Relaying that they submitted their proposals regarding support for low-income families to the government as a project three years ago, Destici requested the establishment of a commission to determine a household’s minimum living needs. Saying that a mechanism similar to the Minimum Wage Determination Commission could be established but that the commission’s structure should be different, Destici proposed that the minimum household living amount be determined according to provinces and regions when necessary. Stating that if, for example, the minimum living amount for a household in Ankara were calculated as 40 thousand liras, the difference between the household’s income and this amount should be covered by the state, Destici said, “A person receives 23 thousand liras as the lowest retirement salary, their house is rented, and they have no other income. The state should give the 17 thousand liras in between as a requirement of being a social state. Or a person receives only 28 thousand liras as minimum wage. The state should give the 12 thousand liras in between as a requirement of being a social state.”
Saying that similar practices exist in European countries, Destici emphasized that if budget possibilities do not allow support to be given to everyone at the same time, disadvantaged households should be prioritized, and said, “We should prioritize the retiree with a single salary, the minimum-wage worker with a single salary, the person whose house is rented, and the worker who sends their child to school.”
“WITHOUT FAMILY THERE IS NO SOCIETY; WITHOUT SOCIETY THERE IS NO NATION”
Stating that women’s place in working life is very valuable, Destici said that protecting the family structure is also of indispensable importance. Destici said, “If there is no family, there is no society; if there is no society, we cannot be a nation. We cannot continue on our path as a strong state. Therefore, we need to put the family at the forefront.”
Reminding that the issue of population and demographic structure is one of the topics to be addressed at the workshop tables, Destici stated that concrete regulations in working life are needed to strengthen the family institution and increase the population.
Destici said, “If we are aiming for a Turkey of 100 million, we absolutely must apply positive discrimination in favor of women in working life.”
“DAYCARE FACILITIES MUST BE PROVIDED FOR EMPLOYEES’ CHILDREN”
Destici, who stated that the daycare problem of working women must be solved, called for daycare facilities to be provided for employees’ children in workplaces with more than a certain number of employees and in public institutions. Destici said, “Every public institution and every workplace employing more than a certain number of workers must have a daycare for employees’ children. Shared daycares should also be established for workplaces that cannot provide this and have a small number of employees.”
Emphasizing that regulations facilitating women’s ability to maintain both work and family life must be implemented, Destici said they expect concrete steps on this issue.
“WOMEN’S UNIVERSITIES AND WOMEN’S HOSPITALS MUST BE ESTABLISHED”
Recalling the example of Japan, Destici proposed the establishment of women’s universities in Turkey and stated that women’s hospitals should also be created. Noting that city hospitals consist of hospitals and towers providing services in different areas, Destici said women’s hospitals could also be included within this structure. Citing Bilkent City Hospital as an example, Destici stated that one of the structures separated into different areas could be arranged as a women’s hospital. Destici mentioned that a similar practice could be implemented at Etlik City Hospital.
“MARRIED WOMEN WITH CHILDREN SHOULD GO TO WORK ONE HOUR LATE AND LEAVE ONE HOUR EARLY”
Sharing his proposal regarding the working hours of married employed women with children, Destici emphasized that positive discrimination should be provided for women in working life. Destici said, “I say this as a proposal: Married women with children should go to work one hour late and leave one hour early. Positive discrimination for women in working life must absolutely, without fail, be provided.”
Stating that this regulation is important for protecting the family structure and preventing a decline in population, Destici expressed that they see this proposal as one of the first concrete steps to be taken.
At the end of his speech, Destici wished that the workshop would yield beneficial results for all stakeholders and thanked those who contributed to the organization.
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