"The minimum wage for 2025 is becoming clear."

The curious wait continues regarding the amount that will enter the pockets of employees in the new year. The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) announced the inflation figures for October, which will constitute the 10th inflation data of the year. Accordingly, the inflation rate for October increased by 2.88, resulting in an annual inflation rate of 48.58%. The Minimum Wage Determination Commission, which will convene next month, will scrutinize the inflation figures for the last 6 months, including October, and the last year.

Minimum wage earners did not receive a raise in the middle of the year. Thus, all eyes turned to the annual inflation rate. Although expectations regarding the annual inflation rate vary, the strongest possibility stands out at 42%. International rating agency S&P and the World Bank recommend that increases be made to minimum wages and pensions based on the expected inflation rate of 17% for 2025. However, S&P announced that the expectation for a minimum wage increase in Turkey is 30% alongside this recommendation.

Although the net amount will be revealed in the meetings of the Minimum Wage Determination Commission, which will be held in December with the participation of the government and labor unions, the market's lowest expectation rate on this issue is 25%. At the end of last year, minimum wage earners had a 37% inflation difference. This was supplemented by a 12-point welfare share increase, resulting in a 49% increase.

Predictions regarding how much the minimum wage will be continue to be on the agenda. The figures on the table for the increased minimum wage for 2025 are as follows:

According to the Government's Medium-Term Program;

OVP Inflation Estimate: 41.5%

Minimum Wage Estimate: 24,058 TL

According to Reuters' inflation estimate

Reuters Inflation Estimate: 42.95%

Minimum Wage Estimate: 24,304 TL

According to the Financial Institutions Association's inflation estimate

Financial Institutions Association Inflation Estimate: 49.39%

Minimum Wage Estimate: 25,399 TL

According to the Central Bank's inflation expectation

Central Bank Survey: 43.14%

Minimum Wage Estimate: 24,336 TL

According to Anadolu Agency's inflation estimate

Anadolu Agency Inflation Estimate: 42.64%

Minimum Wage Estimate: 24,251 TL

According to Standard & Poor's (S&P) estimate

S&P's Inflation Estimate: 44%

Minimum Wage Estimate: 30,000 TL

CRITICAL DATE FOR MINIMUM WAGE

The Ministry of Treasury and Finance will announce the results of the central government budget implementation on November 15.

This month, statements regarding the minimum wage, which concerns millions of workers, will also be focused on. Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan stated, "We have the Minimum Wage Determination Commission to determine the minimum wage that will be valid from 2025. We will start this process at the beginning of December."

"BOTH WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS WILL BE SATISFIED"

Minister Işıkhan continued his speech as follows: "We have the Minimum Wage Determination Commission to determine the minimum wage that will be valid from 2025. We will start this process at the beginning of December. The commission, which includes representatives of workers, employers, and the government, will convene. It will continue its work for a certain period, and then the process will involve bringing the figure that satisfies both the worker and the employer to our agenda and making a decision afterward. Of course, as the AK Party governments, we always ensure that our workers and employers obtain maximum benefit from this process, and we continue our efforts in that direction. We will maintain this sensitivity while determining the minimum wage for 2025. The Minimum Wage Determination Commission will take into account the inflation rate, our economic growth, the needs of our labor market, and the living standards of our citizens while determining this wage. I hope it will be set at a level that will improve living standards and not harm the overall stability and structure of our economy."