28.07.2026 10:12
The regional minimum wage proposal, which has resurfaced in Turkey, has pitted workers and employers against each other. While employers defend the region-based wage model by citing differences in living costs, DİSK, HAK-İŞ, and TÜRK-İŞ oppose the proposal on the grounds that it would lower wages and create new injustices.
The regional minimum wage model, which has recently been brought back for discussion in Turkey, has caused a divergence of opinion between labor and employer groups. Employer representatives, noting the differences in living and production costs between metropolitan cities and other regions, suggest that the minimum wage should be determined regionally, while labor confederations oppose this practice.
DISK: THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE MINIMUM WAGE BECOMING THE AVERAGE WAGE
The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DISK) recalled that the regional minimum wage practice was tested in Turkey between 1951 and 1974 and was abandoned due to its failure. The confederation argued that this model could lead to results contrary to the constitutional principle of equality and could particularly cause wages to decline further in low-income regions.
In its statement, DISK emphasized that Turkey's fundamental issue is not regional wage differences, but rather the fact that the minimum wage has become the average wage for millions of workers. The statement also noted that wage differences between regions and sectors should be regulated through collective bargaining agreements.
HAK-IS: IT COULD CREATE NEW INJUSTICES
HAK-IS General President Mahmut Arslan also announced their opposition to the regional minimum wage practice. Stating that such a system could be exploited to the detriment of workers, Arslan said the practice could create new injustices in wages.
Arslan also stated that the structure of the current Minimum Wage Determination Commission needs to be reorganized and expressed that labor confederations are ready to carry out joint work on this issue.
TURK-IS: IT WOULD BE HARMFUL TO BOTH WORKERS AND THE COUNTRY
TURK-IS also reacted to the regional minimum wage proposal in its written statement. The confederation recalled that Turkey switched to a national minimum wage system in 1974 and stated that reopening the same debate after nearly half a century would provide no benefit to workers.
The statement used the following expressions: "Bringing up or defending the regional minimum wage is harmful to workers, laborers, and the country. The issue that needs to be discussed is transforming the minimum wage into a living wage."
EMPLOYERS DRAW ATTENTION TO COST DIFFERENCES
Employer representatives who advocate for the regional minimum wage model state that living and production costs vary significantly across different regions of Turkey. Employers, noting that cost differences between metropolitan cities and Anatolian towns make a uniform wage practice difficult in some sectors, want different minimum wage models based on region or sector to be evaluated.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT MINIMUM WAGE?
As of 2026, the gross minimum wage in Turkey is 33,030 lira, and the net minimum wage is 28,075 lira 50 kurus.