Minister Işıkhan's Hope-Inspiring Words for the Lowest Pension Salary

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The Minister of Economy, Işıkhan, met with journalists after the New GAP Action Plan Consultation Meeting and this year's last Economic Coordination Council (EKK) Meeting to answer questions related to the agenda.

In response to a question about the minimum wage, Minister Işıkhan stated that the minimum wage is a critical mechanism that directly affects macroeconomic balances, the labor market, and the dynamics of inflation.

Recalling that the minimum wage was set at a net 22,104 lira for 2025 on December 24, Işıkhan continued: "We had increased the minimum wage support from 700 lira to 1,000 lira. Considering the cost, we will provide minimum wage support to our workers through our employers, amounting to between 70 and 82 billion lira. Of course, it is very beneficial to address the development of the minimum wage over the years. In this context, as you know, the minimum wage was 184 lira in 2002. By 2025, it had increased nominally by 119 times and 4 times in real terms. When evaluated in terms of dollars and euros, the minimum wage was 127 dollars in 2002, while it rose to 630 dollars in 2025. It was 144 euros in 2002, and today it has increased to 605 euros. Moreover, the main issue is not the nominal level of the minimum wage here, but its purchasing power. It is very important for us to make this purchasing power and welfare permanent. In summary, we will pursue a policy consistent with our Medium-Term Program targets. We have already entered a disinflation process."

LOWEST RETIREMENT PENSION

In response to a question about retirement pensions, Minister Işıkhan stated that the increase in retirement pensions was carried out in accordance with a legal regulation.

Stating that according to the law, the salary increases for SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees are determined based on the 6-month CPI rate in January and July, while the salaries of civil servant retirees are determined by the inflation difference in addition to the figures specified in their collective agreements, Işıkhan used the following expressions: "As you know, the lowest retirement pension was 10,000 lira in July, and we have recently raised it to 12,500 lira. Of course, the increase in the base pension is as follows; we complete the pensions of retirees who receive low pensions due to short periods and low premium payments to 12,500 lira, and the difference is paid by our Ministry of Treasury and Finance. In January, after the inflation rates are determined, I would like to express that we may be working on increasing the lowest retirement pension in the Economic Coordination Council."

PRIME DEBTS OF MUNICIPALITIES REACHED 160 BILLION

In response to a question about the prime debts of municipalities to the Social Security Institution, Minister Işıkhan stated that the SGK debts of municipalities, which were 96 billion lira until the March 31 elections, have now reached 160 billion.

Pointing out that interest accrues daily on unpaid insurance premiums, Işıkhan provided the following information: "We approach all our municipalities equally, trying to collect SGK premiums without any party discrimination. We accepted the real estate offer corresponding to Küçükçekmece Municipality's debt of 1 billion 65 million lira and carried out our collection. Here, we do not look at which municipality it is. I am the minister of 85 million people. One of my most important goals is to ensure that our municipalities pay their SGK premium debts. We had announced the first 10 municipalities with debts exceeding 1 billion. Of course, we also carried out the process of imposing liens. However, we need to evaluate the steps we took earlier."

"WE WILL COLLECT DEBTS AT THE SOURCE"

We have made contact, issued payment orders, and despite our SGK provincial directors in 81 provinces communicating directly with these municipalities, there are still municipalities that have not paid their debts. Especially our Adana and Mersin Metropolitan Municipalities, we have carried out lien procedures based on the authority granted to us by the law, by placing liens on bank deposit accounts and using other methods. Beyond that, as you know, a Presidential Decree has been published. We will now collect the premium debts of municipalities and their subsidiaries at the source. Since we will collect at the source, there will no longer be a need for you to enter such a process. I want to emphasize this particularly.