CHP Leader Özel Tours Labor Unions: Calls for Mid-Year Minimum Wage Hike in July

ANKARA – On Friday, May 30, 2025, Republican People's Party (CHP) Leader Özgür Özel and his accompanying delegation visited HAK-İŞ and TÜRK-İŞ, two major labor confederations in Turkey, to address pressing labor issues. During the visits, discussions focused on an immediate minimum wage increase in July and the urgent finalization of the Public Sector Collective Bargaining Framework Protocol (KÇP). Both HAK-İŞ Chairman Mahmut Arslan and TÜRK-İŞ Chairman Ergün Atalay highlighted that the minimum wage remains below the hunger line and emphasized the deadlock in the KÇP process, urging the government for immediate action.

CHP Leader Özgür Özel's visits to these unions underscore the opposition's focus on labor issues and their efforts to amplify the expectations of workers, especially regarding the minimum wage, as July approaches.

HAK-İŞ Visit: Current Minimum Wage Structure "Unbefitting for Our Country"

Özgür Özel and the accompanying CHP delegation met with HAK-İŞ Confederation Chairman Mahmut Arslan and members of the Board of Directors. The meeting was also attended by CHP Secretary-General Selin Sayek Böke, CHP Deputy Chairpersons Gamze Taşcıer, Yalçın Karatepe, and Malatya Deputy Veli Ağbaba.

Arslan Emphasizes "Inclusive Commission": HAK-İŞ Chairman Mahmut Arslan reiterated that the minimum wage issue is one of the Confederation's most fundamental agenda items, reminding that they organized a comprehensive symposium on the matter last February. Arslan stated that the current Minimum Wage Determination Commission is "not inclusive and pluralistic," asserting, "A minimum wage determination commission structure formed solely by employers and the government is unbefitting for Turkey."

Arslan emphasized that the number of minimum wage earners and the minimum wage figures, when compared to international examples, indicate significant problems. He stressed that the minimum wage has become a "general wage" in the country and is far from a structure that considers family obligations. Arslan reminded that HAK-İŞ supports Turkey's important goal of EU membership, stating that the criteria of European Union countries are also the natural rights of Turkish workers, and that Turkey can progress and develop based on these criteria. He added that as workers in a potential EU member Turkey, they are aware that their social and economic rights will further advance.

"Mid-Year Hike in July is Essential": Arslan reiterated HAK-İŞ's previously shared view that the minimum wage should be updated in July in line with inflation increases.

"Bayram (Holiday) Good News" Expected for KÇP: Regarding the Public Sector Collective Bargaining Framework Protocol (KÇP), Arslan stated that TÜHİS has still not submitted a proposal and the process is deadlocked. He emphasized that the issue is "urgent and prioritized," and workers are growing impatient. Calling on the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and TÜHİS, Arslan said, "In this inflationary environment, we demand that the collective bargaining agreement be finalized as soon as possible, without extinguishing the hopes of workers who have been waiting for six months, and we expect good news before the Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)."

Özel: "We Embrace Arslan's May 1st Emphases": CHP Leader Özgür Özel expressed his satisfaction with visiting HAK-İŞ, extending his greetings to all organized laborers within HAK-İŞ and the Turkish working class. Özel stated that he followed Chairman Arslan's May 1st speeches in Rize on television, adding, "I would like to express that we embrace all the emphases made by the Chairman in his May 1st speech and all the demands he put forth regarding the livelihood of workers in Turkey."

"Language of Unions Should Be an Example to Politics": Emphasizing that Turkey is going through difficult times and that the language adopted by worker and employer organizations, despite their differing views, should serve as an example to politics amidst the political polarization and tension in Turkey, Özel said, "For this, I thank all chairpersons and all confederation executives in this regard."

Minimum Wage Below Hunger Line, Mid-Year Hike Essential: Özel stated that they have begun a series of visits to both labor and employer unions regarding a mid-year minimum wage increase in July. He asserted that the determined minimum wage in Turkey is "below the lowest hunger line" and "does not meet the conditions necessary for a dignified life." Özel reiterated that in the current inflationary environment, determining the minimum wage once a year is insufficient, and an inflation-indexed increase should be made in July.

"Minimum Wage Commission Must Convene Immediately": Özel underlined that "workers should not bear the cost of inflation," and that the minimum wage has become a general wage in the country. Highlighting that according to research, one out of every two people works for the minimum wage, Özel stated, "Under these conditions, not increasing the minimum wage in July is not an acceptable, tolerable, or bearable situation. We say let's approach this issue from a non-political stance. This issue is not only a matter for unions or a Social Democratic party but for all politics."

Özel stated that the Minimum Wage Determination Commission should convene immediately in July with a "democratic and inclusive structure." He demanded that all confederations be included, their common demands considered, and that the public also contribute to solving this issue by addressing the legitimate concerns of employers. Özel emphasized that the minimum wage should not be referred to as a cost item, but rather as "a wage that will ensure the existence and sustainability of labor, not destroy it." He noted that both the state and employers have significant responsibilities in this regard, and that sectoral problems and transition periods can be discussed, along with important contributions from the state. He concluded by saying, "We should discuss everything throughout June, but most importantly, we must discuss and secure the most legitimate demand: a mid-year minimum wage increase."

The HAK-İŞ visit concluded with a gift presentation and a group photo.

TÜRK-İŞ Visit: KÇP and Unionization on the Agenda

Following the HAK-İŞ visit, CHP Leader Özgür Özel and his accompanying delegation visited TÜRK-İŞ Chairman Ergün Atalay at his office. During the visit, attended by TÜRK-İŞ Board of Directors members, mutual exchange of ideas took place on various topics on the agenda of working life, primarily the Public Sector Collective Bargaining Framework Protocol (KÇP), minimum wage, and unionization.

After the visit to the TÜRK-İŞ General Headquarters, CHP Leader Özgür Özel and TÜRK-İŞ Chairman Ergün Atalay held a joint press conference. The press conference was also broadcast on TÜRK-İŞ's YouTube channel.

In both visits, CHP's efforts to establish close contact with labor unions and to represent the problems of workers more strongly on the national agenda were prominent. The unions' demands for "a mid-year minimum wage increase in July" and the "immediate finalization of the KÇP" found strong support in the political arena.

Source: Sondakika.com