03.12.2025 15:56
In the days leading up to the start of the minimum wage marathon, Mustafa Destici, the leader of the Great Unity Party, was a guest on Haberler.com and calculated the necessary increase for the minimum wage with pen and paper. Reminding that last year's inflation was 50% while a 30% increase was made, Destici stated, "This year, inflation is expected to be around 30-31%. The remaining 20% from last year plus 30% equals 50%. Therefore, the minimum wage should increase by at least 50%. And I am stating the exact figure: it should be 33,050 TL."
Millions of employees are focused on the minimum wage. Just days before the commission's meeting, the leader of the Great Unity Party, which is part of the People's Alliance, Mustafa Destici, was a guest on Haberler.com.
Taking pen and paper in hand, Destici calculated the necessary raise rate for the new term. Reminding that the inflation rate was around 50% last year while the minimum wage was increased by only 30%, Destici pointed out that the inflation expectation for this year is around 30-31%, stating, "There is a 20% loss carried over from last year plus this year's 30% inflation; a total of 50%. The minimum wage must increase by at least 50%. I am giving a figure: It should be 33,050 TL."
"THE COST OF LIVING INCREASED UNREASONABLY"
Stating that he brings up the economy at every opportunity, Destici argued that the exorbitant price increases in basic consumer products are unjustified. He illustrated the gap in prices at markets and cafes with examples:
"A 300-milliliter bottle of water costs 2.5 lira at the factory, 20 lira at the market, and 50 lira at the cafe. A mandarin bought from the garden for 5 lira is 30 lira at the market and 50-70 lira at the store. It is unacceptable for the same tomato to cost 250 lira in one market and 70 lira in another. This price chaos must absolutely come to an end."
"THE LOWEST PENSION SHOULD EXCEED 30,000 LIRA"
Addressing the loss of pensioners' salaries, Destici reminded that in January 2023, the lowest pension was two-thirds of the public worker and civil servant salary. He stated that this ratio has significantly deteriorated today, saying:
"The lowest pension, which was 7,500 lira in January 2023, was two-thirds of the 11,000 lira public salary. Today, a pensioner receives 16,800 lira, but the lowest public servant salary is 50,000 lira. The pensioner's share has eroded, and the two-thirds ratio has completely disappeared. Therefore, the lowest pension should exceed 30,000 lira."
"THE 2024 LOSS IN MINIMUM WAGE MUST BE COMPENSATED"
Destici stated that the minimum wage was only increased once in 2024 and that the 30% raise was far below the year-end inflation, continuing:
"In 2024, the year-end inflation was 50%, but only a 30% increase was given to the minimum wage. The government said, 'We made the raise according to the 2025 target inflation.' Thus, a 20% loss occurred. When this loss is combined with this year's 30% inflation expectation, it becomes mandatory for the minimum wage to increase by at least 50%."