Fatih Erbakan and Ali Babacan proposed a figure for the minimum wage.

22.10.2025 14:30

Fatih Erbakan, who made statements regarding the minimum wage for 2026, said that if waste in the public sector is prevented, the minimum wage could be raised to 45,000 TL. Ali Babacan, on the other hand, stated that according to calculations based on TÜİK data, the wage should be at least 33,000 TL, adding, "As long as the real inflation is not announced, a fair increase cannot be made."

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While discussions about the minimum wage for 2026 continue, Fatih Erbakan, the leader of the New Welfare Party, and Ali Babacan, the leader of the DEVA Party, announced different figures. Erbakan stated that the minimum wage should be 45,000 TL, while Babacan expressed that it could be at least 33,000 TL.

"THE ANNUAL 2 TRILLION TL GOING TO INTEREST..."

Fatih Erbakan, the Chairman of the New Welfare Party, argued that the minimum wage could be easily increased if waste in the public sector is prevented and interest expenses are reduced. In his statement, Erbakan said, "If spending on waste and high extravagance in the public sector is cut, it would be possible to raise the minimum wage to 45,000 TL without burdening the employer, even with just a small portion of the annual 2 trillion TL going to interest."

"45,000 TL IS A FAIR FIGURE"

Erbakan stated that while determining this figure, they considered both the inflation increase and Turkey's growth share, saying, "A 50% increase already makes it 33,000 TL. However, the share coming from growth should also be added. Additionally, the total income of two minimum wage earners should meet the poverty line in a household. Therefore, 45,000 TL is a fair figure," he expressed.

BABACAN: IT SHOULD BE AT LEAST 33,000 TL

In a statement made in the studio of Haberler.com, DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan responded to questions from News Director Olgun Kızıltepe and presenter Melis Yaşar, stating that the TÜİK data does not reflect the reality and that the minimum wage should be raised to at least 33,000 TL. Babacan explained his calculation as follows: "There is a 15% right from last year. When this year's inflation is added, it amounts to 45%. When we also add the 5% share from economic growth, a total increase of 50% is needed. In other words, the current wage of 22,000 TL needs to be raised to at least 33,000 TL."

"THIS CALCULATION WAS MADE ACCORDING TO TÜİK FIGURES"

However, Babacan emphasized that TÜİK's inflation data cannot be trusted, stating, "This calculation was made according to TÜİK figures. However, TÜİK is not telling the truth. Institutional mechanisms should be established to calculate the real inflation."

EXPECTATIONS FOR MINIMUM WAGE ARE INCREASING

In a process where political parties have come up with different proposals, public expectations are also rising ahead of the Minimum Wage Determination Commission meetings that will start in December. Economists indicate that the figures will become clearer after the inflation rate and growth data are announced.