24.12.2025 15:01
The leader of the Great Unity Party, Mustafa Destici, stated, "The announced minimum wage figure is far from meeting the real living conditions of millions of workers and their families. The minimum wage is not a favor; it is the rightful earnings of the worker and laborer. The announced figure is not an acceptable rate; it is not a number. Our demand is a 50% increase."
After the third meeting on the minimum wage, the minimum wage to be applied in 2026 has been announced. Minister Işıkhan officially announced that the minimum wage for 2026 is 28,075 TL.
THE FIRST COMMENT CAME FROM DESTICI
The development has caused a wide reaction in the public, and the first comment from the Cumhur Alliance came from the Great Unity Party. General Chairman Mustafa Destici reacted to the announced figure at a press conference held at the party's headquarters.
"WE SAID A 50% INCREASE WAS NECESSARY"
Destici stated, "The minimum wage for 2026 has been announced. The announced figure has been determined as 28,075 TL with a 27% increase. As you know, we had expressed our opinion on this matter that a 50% increase was necessary. We had justified this by stating that the inflation for 2024 had not been given to minimum wage earners in 2025. While they should have received an increase of about 50% with a 3% evaluation rate on top of 45-46 inflation, they only received 30%. This loss should be compensated this year because no interim increase was made, and the inflation for 2025 is expected to be in the range of 31-32%. Therefore, we proposed a 50% increase, stating that it would be fair and just. However, this did not happen, and a 27% increase was announced.
"MINIMUM WAGE IS NOT A CHARITY"
Let me express this openly. The minimum wage is not a charity. The minimum wage is the sweat of labor, and the announced figure does not reflect this sweat. The announced figure is definitely not the equivalent of the labor of minimum wage earners. The announced minimum wage is far from meeting the real living conditions of millions of workers and their families. As the Great Unity Party, we have clearly stated from the very beginning. The minimum wage is not a favor. It is not a help. It is the equivalent of the sweat of the worker, the laborer. The figure presented and announced does not provide this equivalence at all. There is an injustice here that wounds the conscience. The minimum wage figure announced yesterday has hurt consciences. Because the minimum wage is not just a salary for one person.
"THE ANNOUNCED FIGURE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE"
The minimum wage is the living figure of a household, a family. It is the ability of a father to enter his home with his head held high. It is a mother not being ashamed in front of her child. The figure announced today does not alleviate the financial difficulties faced by families; on the contrary, it will deepen this hardship. This situation also undermines family unity. We express once again. The minimum wage is not charity; it is the sweat of the worker. The announced figure is not an acceptable rate, it is not a figure. A wage that will give the worker, the laborer their rights and sustain the family must be provided. Our demand is a 50% increase, as we have stated with justifications. At the very least, this is a minimum condition for living humanely," he stated.