Turkish Minimum Wage Talks Face Crisis as Labor Unions Boycott Negotiations

TÜRK-İŞ and HAK-İŞ Refuse to Attend Commission Meeting, Citing 'Unfair Structure'

The marathon to determine the 2026 minimum wage in Turkey is set to begin next week, but the crucial Minimum Wage Fixing Commission will convene under the shadow of a historic crisis. The country’s largest labor confederations, TÜRK-İŞ and HAK-İŞ, have confirmed they will boycott the talks, leaving the commission to start its work without any official representation from the organized workforce.

The decision stems from the unions' long-standing critique that the Commission’s structure is fundamentally unfair and does not adequately represent workers’ interests. The talks, which will determine the new floor wage for millions of employees, are scheduled to kick off in the first week of December at the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

Boycott Over 'Unjust' Decision-Making Process

The Minimum Wage Fixing Commission is composed of 15 members, with five representatives each from the government, employers, and workers. However, the Commission is chaired by a member appointed by the Ministry. In the event of a tie—a frequent occurrence in minimum wage talks—the chairman’s side holds the decisive vote, effectively giving the government the majority.

TÜRK-İŞ President Ergün Atalay previously stated the decision to boycott was final unless the Commission's structure was reformed: "We unfortunately stayed in an unfair commission for 50 years. From this moment on, unless a fair regulation is made, TÜRK-İŞ will not participate in the Minimum Wage Fixing Commission again." Mahmut Arslan, President of HAK-İŞ, echoed this sentiment, confirming his confederation would also stay away.

The unions' core demand is for decisions to be made by consensus and not by a simple majority vote dominated by the government.

New Wage Under Immense Economic Pressure

The current net minimum wage is 22,104.67 Turkish Liras. However, the incoming commission faces unprecedented pressure from high inflation and the rapidly eroding purchasing power of workers. Reports from labor confederations indicate that the "hunger threshold" (the amount required for a family to afford a basic, healthy diet) has already surpassed 30,000 TL, making the current wage insufficient even for basic sustenance.

The Commission is expected to hold four meetings, during which they will discuss the timeline, economic data, and the expectations of the parties.

Minister of Labor and Social Security, Vedat Işıkhan, addressed the upcoming process, despite the boycott: "Our main priority in this process is for the parties to reach a consensus through social dialogue... I believe that an optimal level will emerge from the Commission that protects both the welfare of our employees and the production and employment power of our employers."

The new minimum wage is scheduled to be announced by December 31st and will take effect on January 1, 2026.