02.12.2025 10:45
The Minister of Labor and Social Security, Vedat Işıkhan, met with the President of TÜRK-İŞ, Ergün Atalay. During the meeting held at TÜRK-İŞ, the structure of the Minimum Wage Determination Commission was discussed. Minister Işıkhan proposed to Atalay to reduce the number of government representatives in the commission from five to one. The TÜRK-İŞ Presidential Board came together to discuss the new proposal regarding the commission.
The Turkish Confederation of Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ), which announced that it will not participate in this year's Minimum Wage Determination Commission, has been offered a new formula by Minister Vedat Işıkhan. Accordingly, the commission is planned to consist of 5 employers, 5 workers, and 1 representative of the government. The proposal was presented to Atalay yesterday.
The regulation presented to TÜRK-İŞ aims to strengthen the arbitration role of the members representing the government in the commission. If the ministry's work is accepted in the TÜRK-İŞ Presidents' Council, which convened today, TÜRK-İŞ is expected to participate in the Minimum Wage Determination Commission.
TÜRK-İŞ PRESIDENTS' COUNCIL MET
To evaluate the commission proposal, the TÜRK-İŞ Presidents' Council gathered today at 10:00 AM in Ankara. Before the meeting, Ergün Atalay spoke to the press, responding to criticisms and emphasizing the economic difficulties faced by minimum wage earners.
"WHEN IT'S GOOD, IT'S SAID THE EMPLOYER GAVE, WHEN IT'S BAD, WE ARE BLAMED"
Atalay stated that the criticisms against TÜRK-İŞ are unjust and used the following expressions:
"When a good figure comes out, it is said that the employer gave, the state gave. When it’s bad, they blame us. We have been sitting at that table with minimum wage earners for 4 years, but there has been no solution. This year we said 'we are not participating' because we are not doing anything wrong."
"MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS AND RETIREES ARE IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION"
Stating that the living conditions are becoming increasingly difficult, Atalay emphasized that minimum wage earners and retirees are the groups that need the most support:
"For two months, the country has been discussing the minimum wage. It is impossible to live on this money; people are suffering. The priority should be minimum wage earners and retirees. If we live in this country, we must voice these difficulties. This wage is low, and I continue to say so."
THE CURRENT STRUCTURE HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR HALF A CENTURY
In the 1974 meeting of the Minimum Wage Determination Commission, the practice of determining minimum wage at the regional level was abolished, and a single minimum wage covering all provinces was established.
Thus, the minimum wage began to be determined by the Minimum Wage Determination Commission, consisting of 15 members, with 5 representatives from workers, 5 from employers, and the government.
This structure, chaired by one of the members designated by the ministry, convenes with the participation of at least 10 members and makes decisions by majority vote. In the event of a tie, the majority is considered to be on the side of the president.
THE CURRENT MINIMUM WAGE IS 22,104 LIRA
The minimum wage is currently applied as a gross monthly amount of 26,005.50 lira for a worker, and after deductions, the net amount is 22,104.67 lira.
The total cost of the minimum wage to the employer for one worker is 30,621.48 lira. Of this, 26,005.50 lira is the gross minimum wage, 4,095.87 lira is the social security premium, and 520.11 lira is the employer's unemployment insurance fund.
NOTABLE INCREASE RATE IN MINIMUM WAGE
The minimum wage, which did not receive an interim increase in 2024, stands at 22,104 TL. Although economic indicators technically point to a 16-20% increase, due to the rapid rise in rent, food, and clothing prices, a 25% increase is the strongest possibility. In this case, the new net minimum wage will rise to the range of 27,500-28,000 TL.
Change by year:
- 2021: 2,825 TL
- 2022: 4,253 TL → 5,500 TL
- 2023: 8,506 TL → 11,402 TL
- 2024: 17,002 TL
- 2025: 22,104 TL