Veli Ağbaba from CHP: 'Minimum Wage Should Be Above the Hunger Limit'

Noting that the interim increase to be made to the minimum wage will be between 20-40 percent, CHP Deputy Chairman and Malatya Deputy Veli Ağbaba said, "While the average hunger limit for June announced by the unions has increased to 6500 TL, the increase to be given will be below the hunger limit again. In order for the minimum wage to be determined above the hunger limit and for the minimum wage not to remain below the hunger limit in the following months, a monthly increase in the amount of the inflation difference should be given."

Veli Ağbaba, Deputy Chairman of the Republican People's Party and Malatya MP, made evaluations before the minimum wage determination commission meeting to be held today with the additional raise agenda. "Although TURKSTAT stopped announcing the basket of items as of May, we said that we would announce the 'basket of items' every month, including last month. According to our research, the prices of feta cheese and pasta have increased by around 25 percent in the last month, while the one-month increase in sugar prices reached 29 percent. The one-month increase in meat and poultry products was between 4 and 5 percent, while the monthly increase in dried pulses increased by 15 percent. 4 thousand 253 TL minimum wage has lost purchasing power against almost all basic food items against last year's 2 thousand 825 TL minimum wage. Although the minimum wage increased by 50 percent last year to 4 thousand 253 TL, the one-year loss in bread was 93 pieces, while the loss in pasta, one of the most basic food items, was 206 packages. Eggs were among the products that the minimum wage earners lost the most. In eggs, which is a daily nutritional meal, the minimum wage has lost 1345 pieces. While the loss of the minimum wage was 17 kilograms in meat, it was 60 kilograms in chicken. This loss was 354 kilograms in tomatoes and 704 kilograms in potatoes. It is claimed that the minimum wage will be raised between 20 percent and 40 percent. While the average hunger limit for the month of June announced by the trade unions has risen to 6500 TL, the increase will remain below the hunger limit. The losses of the last year on the table of the minimum wage earner will not be restored. In order for the minimum wage to be set above the hunger limit and for the minimum wage not to remain below the hunger limit in the following months, a raise equal to the monthly inflation difference should be given. While the annual rate of increase in vegetables has reached 384 percent, the increase in milk and dairy products has reached 280 percent, even the official inflation in Turkey has gone to three digits; minimum wage earners should be given a wage that they can live humanely with their families, not for show."