05.04.2025 14:20
The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) announced the inflation figures for March. While the salaries of millions of retirees and workers continue to erode against inflation, discussions about a mid-year increase in the minimum wage have reignited in July. President Erdoğan also stated in a recent announcement, "We will make the necessary evaluations," leaving the door open for a mid-year raise.
The Turkish Statistical Institute announced the inflation data for March 2025. In March 2025, there was an increase of 2.46% compared to the previous month. The annual inflation rate was realized at 38.10%. After the announced inflation data, the minimum wage decreased from 22,104 lira to 19,889 lira.
WILL THERE BE A MID-TERM INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE?
The erosion of both retirees' and workers' salaries against inflation has brought the discussions about whether a mid-term increase in the minimum wage will be made in July back to the agenda. In recent months, President Erdoğan, who made an evaluation on the subject, stated, "If there is a very serious deviation in the inflation rate, of course, we will not remain indifferent to this, and we will make the necessary evaluations."
"THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT EROSION BY JULY"
SGK Expert İsmail Sevinç, in a program he attended, stated that a mid-term increase in the minimum wage is necessary, saying, "By the time we reach July, there will be significant erosion, but there is no policy on the horizon to compensate for this. Food prices are also experiencing an incredible rise."
HOW MUCH IS THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR 2025?
The minimum wage has been set at a net of 22,104 lira for the year 2025. A 30% increase was made to the minimum wage. When the employer's SGK employer premium and employer unemployment insurance premium added to the gross wage are included, the total cost of an employee to the employer reaches 30,556 lira and 46 kuruş.
The details of the newly announced minimum wage are as follows:
- Net wage: 22,104 lira and 67 kuruş
- Gross wage: 26,005 lira and 50 kuruş
- With the new minimum wage figure, the minimum wage support provided by the state to employers for each minimum wage earner has also been increased from 700 lira to 1,000 lira.