18.12.2025 06:55
The process of determining the new minimum wage, which directly concerns 7 million employees and indirectly affects the entire society, is ongoing. The second meeting of the Minimum Wage Determination Commission will start today at 2:00 PM. Before the meeting, where Turkish-İş is not expected to participate, Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan stated that it is too early to give figures, while conveying the message, "We will not let our employees be crushed by inflation." Here are the scenarios for the wage increase on the table...
The Minimum Wage Determination Commission will hold its second meeting today as part of its work to determine the minimum wage that will be valid in 2026.
Hosted by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the Commission, which held its first meeting on December 12, will discuss key economic indicators at the meeting scheduled for 2:00 PM. Representatives from the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the Ministry of Trade, and the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) will share data and reports with the commission, chaired by General Director of Labor Oğuz Tuncay.
NO EXPECTATION FOR TÜRK-İŞ TO PARTICIPATE
The minimum wage directly affects 7 million workers and, broadly, the entire society. It is not expected that representatives from Türk-İş, who argue that the structure of the Commission is unfair and needs to change, will participate in the second meeting, just as they did not in the first meeting.
Türk-İş Vice President Ramazan Ağar reacted to the words of Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan, who said, "We are consulting with the parties." Ağar stated, "We presented our reasons for not participating to them before the first meeting. We are not at the table. No one has consulted with us," and added that they would not participate in the Commission meetings.
IŞIKHAN: IT'S EARLY TO TALK ABOUT NUMBERS
Answering journalists' questions before the budget discussions in the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan responded to the question, "Will a number be discussed in the second meeting?" by saying, "It's too early for a number because we need to gather the opinions of the parties and evaluate them in the commission." Işıkhan also mentioned the minimum wage during the budget presentation in the Assembly, stating, "We will not let our employees be crushed by inflation."
Regarding TÜRK-İŞ's absence from the meetings, Minister Işıkhan had stated, "We will carry out every process as a matter of social dialogue. I will consult with the unions and gather their opinions; that is my duty, and we will definitely consult."
DECISIONS ARE MADE BY MAJORITY VOTE
According to the law, decisions in the Minimum Wage Determination Commission are made by majority vote. Even if Türk-İş is not at the table, the employer side represented by the government and the Turkish Employers' Confederation (TİSK) can reach the necessary quorum to determine the minimum wage that will be valid in 2026. The wage that will be valid in 2026 needs to be determined by the end of the month.
The minimum wage is currently applied as a gross monthly amount of 26,005.50 TL for a worker, and after deductions, the net amount is 22,104.67 TL. The total cost of the minimum wage to the employer for one worker is 30,621.48 TL. Of this, 26,005.50 TL is the gross minimum wage, 4,095.87 TL is the social security premium, and 520.11 TL is the employer's unemployment insurance fund.
HOW MUCH WILL THE NEW MINIMUM WAGE BE?
The most important criterion in determining the new minimum wage is the policies for combating inflation and protecting the purchasing power of workers. While the current net minimum wage is assumed to be 22,104.67 TL, economic experts and various institutions are considering different scenarios for the increase. Experts indicate that a further increase in the range of 28% to 30% is more likely, in line with the government's goal of maintaining budget discipline and reducing inflation. However, it is expected that the worker side will present a demand above this range, considering the cost of living and the hunger threshold.
2026 MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE SCENARIOS
In the scenario of a 25% increase, the net minimum wage is projected to be 27,630 TL.
In the 27% increase scenario, the net wage is expected to rise to 28,072 TL.
In the case of a 29% increase, the net minimum wage is calculated to be 28,515 TL.
If a 31% increase is applied, the net wage is estimated to reach 28,957 TL.
In the 32% increase scenario, the net minimum wage is projected to reach 29,178 TL.
If a 33% increase is made, the net minimum wage is expected to be 29,399 TL.