TÜRK-İŞ Takes Historic Stand: Will Boycott Minimum Wage Commission Unless Structure is Reformed

Turkish Confederation of Labor (TÜRK-İŞ) announces decision after the Executive Board meeting on November 4, 2025. Major demands include tax justice, solutions for EYT (Early Retirement), KHK workers' rights, and a critical stance against the Complementary Retirement System (TES).

The Executive Board of the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ) convened on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, in Ankara under the leadership of Chairman Ergün Atalay. The Board tackled the most pressing issues in Turkish labor life and made a historic decision regarding the 2026 minimum wage negotiations: TÜRK-İŞ will not participate in the Minimum Wage Determination Commission (Asgari Ücret Tespit Komisyonu) until its democratic structure is changed.

The 10-point declaration released after the meeting outlined a wide range of demands presented to the government and the public, covering everything from tax injustice and the structure of the High Arbitration Board (YHK) to the grievances of the EYT (Early Retirement), apprentice, and KHK (Decree Law) workers.

The critical reason for the boycott stems from the Commission’s decision-making history. The declaration highlighted that out of 29 decisions made since 2000, only six were reached unanimously, with the worker side frequently expressing dissenting opinions. Recalling their refusal to attend the "decision-making" meeting during the 2025 minimum wage process because their proposals were ignored, TÜRK-İŞ explicitly stated: "As long as there is no change in the Commission’s structure, the Confederation will not attend the Minimum Wage Determination Commission that will convene to set the minimum wage for 2026."

Chairman Ergün Atalay reinforced the stance, saying, "If the regulation does not change, we are at the same point. We will not participate. But we will continue to voice the problems of minimum wage earners every day. If the regulation changes immediately, we will reconvene the Executive Board and act according to their decision."

The Board strongly demanded the immediate alleviation of the heavy tax burden on workers. They pointed out that changes in tax brackets throughout the year reduce workers’ net wages, nullifying the gains achieved through collective bargaining agreements. TÜRK-İŞ asserted that "Justice in taxation must be ensured, and the income tax tariff and rate must be reorganized in favor of wage earners," stressing the need for fundamental tax reform. The declaration also reiterated the demand for the minimum wage to be set at a level worthy of human dignity, criticizing its shift from a floor wage to a general wage standard.

• Tax Justice: Restructuring the income tax tariff and rate to benefit wage earners.

• KHK and Subcontracted Workers: Immediate resolution of compensation and personal rights deficiencies for workers transferred to permanent status under KHK (Decree Law) 696, and the immediate employment of remaining subcontracted workers in public service.

• EYT and Apprenticeship Victims: Legal regulation to count the start of insurance in the apprenticeship/internship period as the start of retirement, and to resolve the grievances of those who missed the EYT (Early Retirement) cut-off date by "one day."

• Warning Against TES: TÜRK-İŞ issued a warning about the Complementary Retirement System (TES) included in the 2026 Presidential Annual Program, arguing it risks transferring public responsibility for social security financing to individuals, and instead demanded the strengthening of the public retirement system.

TÜRK-İŞ declared that it would remain a strong advocate for these issues and continue its resolute struggle to protect workers' rights.