"The expectations for a 'correction' have come to an end: The minimum wage decision is in the Official Gazette."

The Minister of Labor and Social Security, Vedat Işıkhan, announced in a meeting held at the Ministry that the net minimum wage for the year 2025 has been set at 22,104 lira. While the new minimum wage has drawn reactions from many sectors, questions such as "Will there be a correction?" have been raised.

MINIMUM WAGE IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE

The announcement regarding the Minimum Wage Determination Commission's decision, which will end the expectations of a "correction," has been published in the Official Gazette. The decision states that, in accordance with Article 39 of the Labor Law No. 4857 and Article 522 of the Presidential Decree No. 1 on the Organization of the Presidency, the Minimum Wage Determination Commission, which is responsible for determining the minimum wage for all types of workers, whether covered by this law or not, started its work on December 10 and continued until December 24.

As a result of four meetings, it was decided unanimously by those present that a single national minimum wage would be determined, with the minimum wage for a worker's normal daily work being set at 866 lira 85 kuruş between January 1 and December 31, 2025, and it was proposed that the scope, procedures, and principles of the minimum wage support be redefined to continue the support at 1,000 lira during the period from January to December 2025. The decision was reported to be published in the Official Gazette to take effect on January 1, 2025, despite the absence of worker representatives at the meeting.

DETAILS OF THE NEW MINIMUM WAGE

The details of the new minimum wage shared with the public by Minister Işıkhan have been clarified. Accordingly, the gross minimum wage of 26,005 lira 50 kuruş consists of a net minimum wage of 22,104 lira 67 kuruş, a social security premium of 3,640 lira 77 kuruş, and an unemployment insurance premium of 260 lira 6 kuruş.

When the gross minimum wage of 26,005 lira 50 kuruş is added to the employer's social security premium of 4,030 lira 85 kuruş and the employer's unemployment insurance premium of 520 lira 11 kuruş, the total monthly cost for an employer for a worker becomes 30,556 lira 46 kuruş.

With the new minimum wage figure, the minimum wage support provided by the state to employers for each minimum wage worker has been increased from 700 lira to 1,000 lira. Furthermore, with the new minimum wage, there will be changes in many areas, including unemployment benefits, General Health Insurance (GSS) premiums, severance pay, and internship wages, starting from January 1, 2025.